IPL 2017: Top 5 controversies through IPL history

#3 Lalit Modi expelled from the BCCI

The IPL was Lalit Modi’s creation

The IPL was Lalit Modi’s brainchild. This is something we all know and there isn’t any doubt that he deserves credit for starting such a league in India that has since become a model for many other sports like Football, Hockey, Tennis, Badminton and Kabaddi to follow in the footsteps of the IPL in India

But the fact that some of his dealings in the IPL were fishy and questionable is also something that can’t be denied. In April 2010, via tweets, Modi accused the Indian foreign affairs minister in the Congress government at the time, Shashi Tharoor, of facilitating the Kochi Tuskers Kerala franchise’s bids and also accused him of conflict of interest. One thing led to another and on the finals day of IPL 2010, just minutes before the match, Lalit Modi was removed from the position of IPL Commissioner.

The BCCI set up a special disciplinary committee to look into the matter and it was also found later that Modi was guilty of rigging bids in the IPL. Most prominent was the signing of Andrew Flintoff in the 2009 season where Modi allegedly stopped Rajasthan Royals from bidding for him and ensured his services went to the Chennai.

The saga finally ended with Lalit Modi being expelled by the BCCI in 2013 which meant that he couldn’t return to the fold in any capacity and can’t compete for any position in the BCCI. This entire Lalit Modi controversy was one of the biggest to have ever hit the league.