IPL: Confusion & Controversies

   On 12th March, 2010, third edition of IPL begins with spectacular opening ceremony, in the span of just two years, from its inception, IPL becomes world’s one of the famous sports brand, which not only attracts all the cricket playing countries cricket fraternity but also non cricket playing countries like U.S.A., and U.S.A. High Commissioner to India was seen watching cricket match in the stadium which gives wings to the speculations that coming edition can be held in the U.S.A., but later on grounding speculations Mr. Lalit Modi said (he was then IPL Commissioner and Chairman) IPL is an Indian Premier League, so there is no chance that it will be held in any other country, last year it was held in South Africa because Indian Government was unable to provide security because in the country simultaneously general elections were going to held.
   On, 21st March,2010 two more teams included in the IPL, which will be part of fourth edition of IPL, by name Pune and Kochi; Sahara Adventure Sports Group, bid for three cities Ahmedabad, Nagpur & Pune for same amount that was $370 million (1,702 Crores Rupees), being highest bidder it allowed to opt for any one city and group goes for Pune., second successful franchisee was unknown consortium Rendezvous Sports World Limited, bid for Kochi for a whopping amount of $333 million (1533.33 Crores Rupees), bid amount surprises everybody including IPL Chairman and Commissioner MR. Lalit Modi as he was hoping bids around $ 275 million because base price was $225 million, Mr. Modi declared that two new franchisees’ bought teams, it is equivalent to existing eight teams, along with it he also increase the purse price of franchisees’ from $50 million to $ 70 million for buying players.
   As per words of Mr. Modi, in the beginning when he talked about IPL concept to investment community, they were reluctant to invest in project which yet to launch and no body sure about its results success or failure. Then he met his known circle, to step ahead and invest in IPL & luckily for IPL they ready to invest and take risks, whether it was Shahrukh Khan or Vijay Mallya or others. So, they bought teams .Thus we were able to launch IPL, but with the successful completion of IPL’s two previous edition, we feel necessity to add two more teams, which will we seen in action in the fourth edition.
    April, 11, 2010 onwards till 25th April, 2010 (the day of final of IPL 3) store for IPL confusion, controversies and accusations and in the gap of just 15 days two persons, lost their respective jobs, and with every passing time it was headed towards downfall of controversies erupter Tharoor & Modi, and their blame game which becomes news headline, briefly as it was happened –

• Modi in his twitter accounts tweets that one of the equity holder in the Rendezvous Sports World is Sunanda Pushkar, she got 70 crores of equity without spending any money and get them as “Sweat Equity”, and from here the controversy saga begins.
• Next day Rendezvous World Sports, C.E.O. announced in the media that Mr. Modi has violated the clause of confidentiality by taking the details of equity in the public domain, along with it media was flashing the information relating to Sunanda Pushkar, that she is friend of Mr. Shashi Tharoor (then) Minster of State for External Affairs.
• Next day news came that Kochi franchise was offered $ 80 million to back off from franchisee of Kochi, even they were also threat in the presence of one of the senior union cabinet minister’s daughter to quit otherwise ready to face consequences in Mumbai.
• Growing pressure on government succumb Tharoor to resigns from the post of Minister of State for External Affairs, and Sunanda Pushkar surrender her equity of Kochi franchisee.
• As the parliament session was underway, members of parliament & political parties were blaming of fowl money involved in the IPL and demanded for thorough investigation from C.B.I.
• Then news came that IT department raided offices of franchisees’ and Lalit Modi offices’ across the country, and before the IT sleuths reached in Modi’s Mumbai office, which was in the room of Hotel, a woman seen leaving room of Mr. Lalit Modi with Laptop and some documents which was captured in CCTV, and later on identity reveal of mysterious woman that she was step daughter of Vijay Mallya, she work for Mr. Modi.
• Then news breaks that Mr. Praful Patel, was source to pass on information to Mr. Tharoor, through her daughter, who is employee of IPL, before the bidding process started for the two new teams.
• Next day news come that daughter of Mr. Praful Kumar Union Minster of Civil Aviation diverted one of plan of Air India to facilitate Chennai Super Kings team to Land in Rajasthan.

On 25th April it was Final Match of IPL three but also final night for Mr. Modi as IPL Chairman and Commissioner, soon after the completion of match, news started flashing that Mr. Modi sacked, immediately from his all the post of IPL and BCCI, it seems here that chapter closed here with exit of two persons who were directly involve in allegations and counter allegations, but some persons still believe that Modi hide lot of mysterious in his head related to controversies and if he reveal then it can become problems for lot of persons.