'Why didn't Modi disclose IPL ownership in 3 yrs'

BCCI president Shashank Manohar on Wednesday made light of IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi's move for disclosing the ownership pattern of IPL franchisees, wondering what was he doing for the last three years.

He said the ownership issues were legal complex matters and nothing could be decided in haste.

"Modi in his Twitter page posted details of the Kochi franchisee. On the basis of that media pounced on him seeking to know as to why he did not disclose details of the other teams pertaining to the existing eight teams.

"The question is, why did Mr Modi not disclose this for three years when these eight teams' documents were available with him since 2007," Manohar said.

Manohar said the IPL Governing Council meeting is the right platform to share the details about the franchisees due to legal implications.

Modi in an e-mail to Manohar had offered to reveal the ownership details of all the franchisees but the BCCI top brass including its president are completely against such a move.

"We received a mail from Mr Venugopal, one of the owners of the Kochi franchise, saying this was a breach of Confidentiality Clause in the agreement which had been signed between BCCI and them and he further says they were contemplating legal action. Notice was sent to us on the night of April 11," Manohar said.

"To wriggle out of the situation, Mr Modi wrote a mail dated April 14, 2010 to me and members suggesting that all details regarding the franchisees be made public. I replied that the issue is complicated and need detailed deliberations," he said.

The BCCI chief said all IPL Governing Council members have agreed that the matter would be discussed in the meeting on April 26 and even Modi had agreed to it.

"We cannot take any decision in haste, so a meeting has been convened at Mumbai for April 26, 2010.  Mr Modi has waited for three years and another ten days would only mean that there is delay for three years and ten days," Manohar said.

"Legal implications and the disclosures are serious issues because there are confidentiality clauses in the agreements with the franchisee. In view of these, it is necessary to examine the documents thoroughly before providing the factually correct information to the public," he said.