Modi on way out?

Lalit Modi appears to have lost the backing of BCCI heavyweight Sarad Pawar and may be out as IPL commissioner.

Beleaguered Lalit Modi appears to have lost the backing of BCCI heavyweight Sarad Pawar and may be out as IPL commissioner when the Governing Council meets in Mumbai on April 26.

Amid mounting pressure from detractors within and outside BCCI to ease him out,indications emerged that Modi may have to quit the post as members are likely to ask him to voluntarily give up the position given the raging controversy that now surrounds the financing of the hugely popular league.

Modi,who is at the centre of a storm following his

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comments on Kochi franchise that cost the job of Union Minister Shashi Tharoor,however,put up a brave face parrying demands for his resignation.

After crucial discussions with Finance Minister,Pranad Mukherjee and Home Minister P Chidambaram,BCCI heavy weight Sharad Pawar today called incumbent president Shashank Manohar and discussed the current IPL mess in the wake of allegations and counter-allegations regarding the funding of the hugely popular cash-rich event and the bidding process.

“Our (BCCI) total approach in the Governing Council will be they will take collective,unanimous decisions,and give future direction to Indian cricket,” Pawar told reporters after Manohar flew in from Nagpur and discussed the “entire IPL situation”.

Asked whether Modi would accept the Governing Council decision,he said,”Don’t forget Mr Modi is also a vice president of the BCCI and our total approach and past experience,we always take collective and unanimous decision where everyone is party to,including Lalit Modi.”

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Pawar said Manohar suggested that Modi should call the Governing Council meeting on April 26 and that he was confident of BCCI President giving leadership to Indian cricket.

Manohar later had a meeting with Media and Finance Committee chairman Rajiv Shukla and DDCA President and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitely to discuss the issue.

Manohar,who was handpicked by Pawar to succeed him as BCCI President,are believed to have agreed that Modi should make his exit in the current situation when the whole IPL’s financial base has come under attack along with his style of functioning.

A top BCCI source indicated that Modi would be asked to step down from the post at the Council meeting in Mumbai and Pawar has also given his consent to the move.

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“It will be in the best interest of the IPL and the BCCI that he steps down from the post. But if he does not do so,the Governing Council may be forced to pass a resolution against him to remove him,” the source said.

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