End of the line for Lalit Modi?

Lalit Modi suffered a severe blow as the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) initiated the disaffiliation of the Nagaur District Cricket Association. As a result, Modi, the acting president of the Nagaur District Cricket Association, is currently without a position of power. The suspension order from the RCA came through on Saturday, 24th of June.

Lalit Kumar Modi has served as a cricket administrator for over a decade. He was the first Chairman and Commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and conducted the tournament for three years until 2010. He has held the position of the Chairman of the Champions League T20 during 2008–10 and was the Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) during 2005–10.

Ultimatum by BCCI

The BCCI had previously banned the RCA from being functional. Subsequently, the governing body had provided the RCA with an ultimatum to revoke the ban if and only if the latter would remove Modi from all authoritarian positions.

RCA president CP Joshi, who chaired the new executive committee’s first meeting commented, “The BCCI had written to us that the ban can be lifted only after a suspended person is removed from all posts. By suspending Nagaur DCA, we have complied with their demand, and now we hope that the ban will be lifted.”

The RCA has recently seen a dry patch, with funding becoming increasingly scarce. Eager to end this drought, Joshi has complied with his statement made at the time of his appointment of attempting to revoke the BCCI’s ban. The RCA is likely to put forth the suspension order in front of the BCCI special general meeting to be held today.

Division within the RCA:

The RCA, however, was divided into two distinct groups over the decision of suspending the Nagaur District Association. The motion was passed 4-2, in favour of the suspension. It was primarily opposed by the secretary of the RCA, Rajendra Singh Nandu and treasurer, Pinkesh Jain.

Nandu, who also is the secretary of the to-be-suspended governing body, stands to lose his position at the RCA if the suspension is carried out. He was vociferous in voicing his indignation at the decision and alleged of being bypassed at the RCA meeting, with Mahendra Nahar taking charge of the minutes register.

“This is illegal. Despite my requests to give me one month time to persuade Modi to step down, the executive committee went ahead with the suspension. I will speak to my lawyers and if required, I will move court”, said Nandu.

RCA seems to have made an airtight move:

The RCA has however chosen to tread the path taken by the BCCI in banning the former governing body. It had challenged the BCCI’s decision at court previously, but the same had been upheld in favour of the BCCI. In a similar manner, the RCA seems to have done enough to re-register themselves in the good books of the BCCI. Even if the Modi lobby chooses to go to court over the matter, which they’re most likely to, it’s extremely improbable that they’ll get any fruition out of it in their favour.