BCCI says Modi ready to quit as IPL chief

Mumbai: Indian Premier League Chairman Lalit Modi has decided to step down, sources told CNN-IBN on Saturday.

The decision follows a phone conversation between Modi and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Shashank Manohar that was facilitated by former cricket board chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. Sources said this was the first time Modi and Manohar spoke to each other in 15 days.

Sources added that Manohar told Modi that there was no option but to quit and that if he didn't so, the BCCI will go ahead with the Governing Council meeting on April 26. It is then that Modi agreed to Pawar's and Manohar's compromise formula.

However, the IPL commissioner has told CNN-IBN that he has not yet resigned. "I have not resigned from the post of IPL Commissioner, I have asked for five days more to prepare for my defence."

Earlier in the morning, liquor baron and owner of Royal Challengers Bangalore Vijay Mallya met Pawar at his residence in Mumbai.

Mallya told reporters after the meeting that "Lalit Modi is a good friend of mine" and that he should given some time to explain himself.

"Modi should be given some time to explain himself. I am no judge here. Media should ask Modi and the BCCI on what they intend to do," said Mallya.

"There is some wrong done. Some governing council members are not happy about it. Let them investigate the matter. Let's not stretch things," he said.

"Yes, there may be questions about how IPL is run and that should be investigated. But to question the team owners, allege there's black money, that's a stretch. If money comes from Mauritius or Switzerland through any government body, it is not question. Why is it questioned for IPL? Match fixing is utter rubbish," added the owner of Royal Challengers, Bangalore.