Board moves to confront Modi,get him to quit posts

The screws are tightening on IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi. Senior members of the Board of Control for Cricket in India...

The screws are tightening on IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi. Senior members of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said that the IPL governing council will meet on April 26 to admit a proposal that asks Modi to resign from all posts he holds failing which a meeting of the BCCI working committee will be convened on May 2 to propose his removal.

Besides being the Commissioner and chairman of the IPL,the prized sports-cum-entertainment event he conceived and launched two years ago,Modi is also a member of the working committee and chairman of the tour,programme and fixture committee of BCCI.

Modi did not respond to phone calls and BCCI president Shashank Manohar was not available for comment. The removal of a member can be decided only through a special General Body Meeting (SGM). In case Modi doesnt step down on his own,the working committee will subsequently convene the SGM for voting on the proposal, said a senior BCCI member requesting anonymity.

The general body includes the board president,25 regional cricket associations,three government boards including the services,university and the railways boards,and the Mumbai and the Kolkata cricket clubs. The body needs a two-thirds majority to move a resolution.

Before the governing council meeting,some top BCCI officials are also likely to hold a meeting with IPL franchise owners on April 23. This,however,couldnt be independently ascertained with any of the team owners. Meanwhile,Modi has not been invited to this meeting,according to insiders.

The April 23 meeting,if it happens,will coincide with IPL awards to be held in Mumbai,which,according to an IPL media manager,will be attended by all franchisees. The IPLs current season ends on April 25.