The BCCI’s franchisee concept for its Twenty20 competition opens doors to corporates. Lalit Modi didn’t go public with the names of the willing clients but mentioned around 30 have already made known their willingness. Sources in the know say that list it is a virtual ‘Whos Who’ of India Inc. “We could have people like the Tatas, Anil and Mukesh Ambani, Laxmi Mittal and Vijay Mallya ending up as owners. We have got feelers from the business houses owned by these heavyweights besides a host of other big names,” he said. This doesn’t come as a surprise. Signs were there. Reliance re-entered the cricket field by becoming the co-sponsor of the Twenty20 World Cup after they were associated with the conventional Cup away back in 1987.
