5 cases when BCCI bans were all bark and no bite!

Many are calling it Lalit Modi's endgame. The man himself though has made it clear. "This is just the beginning of the games. I have been banned by a band of crooks in the BCCI. But I am not running away anywhere. I am a fighter, and this time I'm looking forward to a good fight", Modi told NDTV on Wednesday from London.

In the BCCI, almost nothing is forever. And that's why, the ex-IPL chairman and commissioner can afford to be hopeful of making a comeback to the fold. Here are the top 5 instances of players and officials who have been ousted by the Indian Cricket Board, only to make a return

5. AJAY JADEJA

In the year 2000, a CBI inquiry found Ajay Jadeja guilty of match fixing, following which the BCCI banned him for 5 years. Jadeja went to court against that decision, and in 2003 the Delhi High court overturned the ban because of unavailability of proof. He didn't manage to play for India again, but the BCCI did allow him to play domestic cricket. He played for Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy, and infact captained the side as well.

4. RAJASTHAN ROYALS AND KINGS XI TEAMS TERMINATED FROM IPL

In 2010, the IPL's Governing Council terminated the contracts of two teams, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab for problems in their ownership pattern. Eventually the two teams went to court and got the decision overturned.

3. MD AZHARUDDIN

In 2000, South African captain Hansie Cronje in his confession named Md Azharuddin, as the main person who introduced him to bookies in India. A CBI inquiry followed, during which Azhar admitted to fixing 3 ODIs vs South Africa. The BCCI handed him a life ban. 12 years later it was overturned, as Azhar was cleared by an Andhra High Court. The former Indian captain has been spotted at BCCI functions since then, like the annual awards ceremony. Ajay Sharma, named in the same fixing saga as Azhar, wasn't as lucky. He continues to serve his life ban.

2. KAPIL DEV

The man who led India to its first World Cup win in 1983, Kapil Dev, was in 2007, banned for being part of an unsanctioned league, the Indian Cricket League. Kapil had to resign from his post of Chairman in the 'rebel' league, to be back in the BCCI fold

1. JAGMOHAN DALMIYA

The most high profile instance though of the BCCI overturning a ban on a player or official would have to be that of Jagmohan Dalmiya. The former BCCI and ICC President was banned for misappropriation of funds during the 1996 ICC World Cup. A year later, when the issue was taken to the Bombay High Court, and then the Supreme Court, Dalmiya was exonerated. The BCCI had failed to prove the charges. Dalmiya returned as the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal. And earlier this year, the veteran cricket administrator was appointed as the interim President of the Board, in the wake of the IPL 6 spot-fixing scandal.