Lalit Modi is a megalomaniac.
The former czar of the IPL wishes to take over the world—the cricketing world.
And that too in style.
Modi and his cronies have envisaged a new world order that does not require the sanction of the ICC, one that affiliates itself with the Olympic movement. The blueprint will do away with ODI cricket altogether and consist of only Test and T20 tourneys.
Modi said:
“We’re talking about another cricketing system. There is a blueprint out there, it’s got my rubber stamp on it. I have been involved in it. I say it for the first time, I’ve been involved in putting that (blue)print together. We could take on the existing establishment, no problem. It requires a few billion dollars, I don’t think it would be a problem to get that … into action.
The plan that I have put together is a very detailed plan, it’s not a plan that’s come off the cuff, it’s been taking years and years and years in the making.”
International Cricket Council (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The fugitive from justice has termed the big three of international cricket, India, Australia and England “snakes”.
Speaking to ABC Network in its documentary, ‘The Great Cricket Coup’, Modi said:
“They are the three snakes of cricket. You’ve got to take their neck off, you’ve got to chop their head off, otherwise cricket will not survive.”
(Modi apparently does not understand that snakes have no necks.)
Modi added:
“For me to get players would be…a switch of a button. There was a report that ran on the front of The Australian newspaper that said $100 million pay cheque for two of your players. I think that’s an easy cheque to write and if that cheque is easy to write then ‘would I get the players or not?’ is a question you should ask the players, not me.”
The heartening aspect of this extraordinary plan is that Modi does not intend to do away with Test cricket.
Also, he does see the need to gain approval from another body, if not the ICC, the IOC.
That is going to be an onerous task.
The ICC is unlikely to relinquish control over a sport that is a money-spinner for the powers-that-be without a fight.
It would be interesting to see how Modi’s plot pans out.
Kerry Packer and his ‘pyjama cricket’ improved cricket telecasting and was the harbinger of fatter pay packets for the players and commentators.
Not that the sport needs more; at least, the Indian players would differ strongly.
But an offshoot of any such attempt might mean that more cricket is played all over the world and the profits redistributed to many more nations much like Sepp Blatter’s FIFA, perhaps, without the endemic corruption and powerplay(s).
More power to Modi.
‘The Great Cricket Coup‘ is available for viewing here.
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