Lalit Modi-Giles Clarke face-off in English summer

The chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Giles Clarke will face four weeks in the high court after trial dates were announced for the libel writs brought against him by suspended IPL commissioner Lalit

Modi and global sports marketing and consulting firm International Management Group (IMG).

According to reports in the Daily Telegraph, Modi and IMG will supposedly combine their actions against Clarke, set to be heard on July 4, with twice the usual length set aside to go through the intricacies of the case.

Former Indian Premier League chief had served a defamation notice on Clarke in May last year for accusing him of hatching a plan to destroy the structure of world and English cricket.

Clarke in an e-mail had alleged that Modi's actions were "detrimental to Indian cricket, English cricket and world cricket at large."

IMG, on the other hand, decided to sue the chairman following his remarks that the firm was part of Modi's alleged plans to start a rebel Twenty20 league in England.

If the sides don't reach on an agreement out-of-court, the actions would unveil the circumstances behind a messy period for English and Indian cricket.

The legal costs are believed to have swelled to more than US $16,22,216, with Modi and IMG also seeking damages.