Lalit Modi discloses BCCI's actions against ICL

In the wake of BCCI's refusal to allow its player to play in the Sri Lankan Premier League, Lalit Modi, the former IPL chairman, has lashed out at the BCCI for arm-twisting other cricket boards and the ICC to change its constitution in order to crush the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Modi disclosed how the Indian Cricket Board made sure the rebel league started by Subhash Chandra, Essel Group, through is tweets on Monday.

"When I was at the BCCI - the mandate given then was to scuttle ICL. BCCI arm twisted every cricket board and the ICC to change their constitution," Lalit Modi posted on his Twitter page.

"The constitution of every board was changed and the ICC made the ICL redundant by its act - by making it unauthorized Cricket," he added.

Modi also disclosed how the ICC had to change its constitution to protect its members.

"Worldwide anti-competition laws were studied and finally though against most laws - the ICC changed its constitution to protect the members," he wrote.

Though Modi accepted that he too was a part of the action, he said he had nothing against the ICL. "Yes I was part of the BCCI when we scuttled ICL. That was the mandate of the organization. It was not my personal agenda," he said.

"I have no personal issues with the ICL. I am of the personal opinion that more competition in the game is good for the game and its players," he added.

Modi also said that the BCCI was afraid of Subhash Chandra's clout in the media and felt he had the ability to take over the world of cricket. "Internally, we knew he would do a better job," he said.

The former IPL chief also said that the BCCI used all means to finish the rebel league that was headed by former Indian captain Kapil Dev. "We as BCCI called all and sundry to oppose ICL. Cricket associations were told not to give there grounds or fear losing matches," Modi posted the micro-blogging site.

Modi also gave out how the BCCI killed the T20 league that gave opportunity to all those players, who could not play for their national teams, in a step-by-step manner.

"Advertisers were called and told if you advertise on the ICL, then you will be barred from all BCCI cricket. In effect BCCI did what was necessary to finish ICL."

"Players were told do not play for ICL or we will black list you. This then BCCI had to implement through change of constitution," Modi posted.

"BCCI even terminated Zee Sports contract unfairly as they had launched ICL and the BCCI wanted the window for IPL. This I am told, is in court now," he said.

"The final straw was to offer the ICL players an amnesty scheme so that they would desert the ICL and join the IPL," he said. Players like Ambati Rayudu who joined the IPL, were handed a one-year suspension before being allowed to play.

BCCI did not leave the commentators and umpires either. "Commentators were called and told to not associate with the ICL or else the BCCI would ensure they were not taken. Umpires were told the same. It was systematically done," Modi said.

"BCCI then called every member of the ICC to ensure that they all help in changing the ICC constitution to outlaw ICL."

"ICC set up a three-member committee with ME, Giles Clarke President ECB and Norman Arendse President CSA to draft the new constitution," he said.