In BCCI, Lalit Modi had a milk run

Lalit Modi’s colleagues in BCCI seem to have given him a long rope as they “hardly” discussed or expressed dissent on decisions taken by the former IPL chairman.

Former cricketer Ravi Shastri has told the Enforcement Directorate that he does “not remember” any member objecting to any major decision taken by Modi.Former BCCI chairmen Sharad Pawar and Shashank Manohar and other cricket administrators N Srinivasan, Arun Jaitley and Rajiv Shukla were among those who attended IPL governing council meetings chaired by Modi.

Shastri, who was inducted into the IPL governing council, said he agreed to be part of IPL as he thought it was a “unique and much-needed concept for the game to evolve”. Shastri, a former all rounder, is presently Indian cricket team director.While recording his statement in August 2011, the ED specifically asked him about the decision-making process of IPL governing council. 

“I was not involved in the minute details of the league and my role was limited to advising the IPL on cricketing issues. The major decisions were taken by Modi since he was the chairman of the IPL. I can say that there was hardly any discussion regarding the decisions taken by Modi and generally his decisions were ratified by the governing council,” Shastri said. 

To another question whether any issue was discussed and deliberated in the governing council before a final decision was taken, he said till IPL3 (2010), there was “hardly any discussion in the meetings” and the decisions taken by Modi were approved in the meeting. 

“Generally, the decisions were communicated in the minutes or in the subsequent meeting of the governing council. After IPL3, decisions are taken after thorough inspection in the governing council,” he said.

Queried whether any objection was raised against any decision taken by Modi, he said he does not remember any member objecting to any major decision taken by the then IPL chief.

Shastri was also asked about agreement signed with domestic and foreign players and negotiations with foreign cricket boards to which he answered that he was not involved in such exercises.