New Delhi:
The house that cricket built in India has always been a divided one. And now, with Lalit Modi as the centrifugal force, the politics that have often overshadowed the game are what Modi's allegedly counting on to survive as the Chairman and Commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Modi has been asking for a meeting of the IPL's governing council to be postponed from Monday. He said he wanted a few days to put together his defence against charges of corruption and defaming the league he built. (
Read: Modi wants to cancel critical IPL meeting, questions its legality)
Sources say that in reality, what Modi actually wants is a court hearing that could help him in his battle to survive; he hopes to get a conflict of interest case against the BCCI highlighted within five days. The BCCI apparently wants him out before that, and is keen to pass the resolution for Modi's ouster on Monday.
The case in question has been filed by A Muthiah, a former chief of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Muthiah has challenged in the Supreme Court the BCCI's decision to allow N Srinivasan, the board's secretary, to buy an IPL team. Conflict of interest, says Muthiah.
Srinivasan is also the person who has formally convened Monday's meeting. Modi has challenged the validity of the meeting-he claims only the Chairman can summon the governing council.
Modi had been hoping that the case against Srinivasan would be heard in the Supreme Court during an extension granted to him by the BCCI.
The request for postponement of the meeting was turned down, but if the court expresses its disapproval of Srinivasan's deal, Modi would have some much-needed ammunition against those forcing him out.
Srinivasan has filed a caveat in court which means that an order cannot be delivered without the court granting him a hearing.
Meanwhile, BCCI members say that preparations to sack Modi are in full swing. The resolution that will move his dismissal is reportedly being prepared by BJP leader and BCCI member Arun Jaitley.
Sources say BCCI bosses have examined documents of the TV rights deals with WSG and MSM, and Modi will be charged with financial irregularity for allegedly receiving kickbacks, and for breach of the franchise agreement's confidentiality clause.