Modi defends Gavaskar on IPL payment row

A day after the Board of Control for Cricket in India denied that Sunil Gavaskar is due any payment for his term as an Indian Premier League Governing Council member, suspended chairman of the Twenty20 league Lalit Modi said the former India captain had always been forthright in his dealings and never known to lie.

Gavaskar had on Tuesday hit out at the BCCI for not paying him for his job in the IPL Governing Council, a claim promptly refuted by the Board.

"A lot has been said about Sunny. All I can tell you is that in all my dealings with Sunny I've never known him to be a liar or anything. Sunny has been forthright. I'm sure they'll sort it out," Modi told CNN-IBN.

Gavaskar, who was controversially omitted from the IPL's Governing Council in September, claimed he hasn't been paid for the last three years but Board secretary N Srinivasan rubbished it, saying it is not factually correct.

Modi, who is under investigation by various government agencies in India following allegations of irregularities in the IPL, including money laundering, made his first public appearance on Wednesday since being served a 'Blue Corner' notice by the Enforcement Directorate.

He has been invited here to address the prestigious International Sports Event Management (ISEM) Conference at Twickenham. He will be sharing the dais with some high-profile sports administrators, including the CEOs of 2012 London Olympic Games and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Modi will reflect on the success of the IPL and the future of sports in India. He will also take part in a question and answer session and is also expected to discuss the Delhi Commonwealth Games and its impact.

He exuded confidence that BCCI president Shashank Manohar and ICC president Sharad Pawar will soon sort out the matter involving Gavaskar.

"Both (Manohar and Pawar) will soon meet and sort out the issue," he said.

Modi, however, refused to divulge details of the pay packet offered to Gavaskar, saying, "I am sure it will be sorted out. That's all I have to say."

On his possible return to India, the former IPL chairman said, "I don't have anything to say further."