According to The Times of India, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief Shashank Manohar will meet Sharad Pawar, head of the Nationalist Congress Party, to discuss ousting Modi with Manohar himself taking over as IPL chairman.
An unnamed BCCI official said Modi would be “knocked out” of his position as chairman of IPL, but would continue as the vice-president of BCCI in his capacity as the vice-president of the Punjab Cricket Association.
The Indian government is investigating the funding and operation of the tournament after a minister quit over allegations he influenced the awarding of a franchise. Junior Foreign Minister Shashi Tharoor resigned yesterday after opposition claims he benefitted from free shares given to a friend by Rendezvous Sports World, which heads the group that won bidding for the IPL team in southern Kerala state with a $333 million offer.
“All aspects including sources of funding and routes through which the funds arrived would be looked into. Appropriate action as per law would be taken. No guilty or wrong-doer will be spared,” said Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Modi denies any allegations of funding irregularities and tweeted yesterday evening: “Lots in media-speculations. welcome all investigation-ready to extend all cooperation.”
