Pranab, Chidambaram, Pawar talk cricket

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Union Agriculture Minister and former BCCI chief Sharad Pawar met in New Delhi on Tuesday morning, reportedly to discuss the cash row controversy surrounding the Indian Premier League (IPL) and its impact on the future of the sport and the politics of the nation.

The meeting has just ended, and Pawar is now meeting with BCCI President Shashank Manohar at his residence to discuss what action, if any, has to be taken against Lalit Modi, the chairman of the IPL governing council, for his perceived role in the controversy that saw the resignation of Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor.

Earlier in the day, Pawar distanced himself from Modi

He told reporters that he had nothing to do with the IPL.

"I am not dealing with this subject, I am not a member of IPL committee. I am not aware of any BCCI meeting or impending decision. I have not received any notice of the meeting, only read in the papers that such a meeting has been scheduled for April 25," said Pawar.

But sources said that Manohar, who has also refused to comment in public on the issue, is in New Delhi to meet Pawar to discuss Modi's removal.

A final decision on Modi will only be taken by the BCCI after the IPL finals on April 25. The course of action is likely to be decided on Tuesday, a private television channel reported.

The cricket board has also rescheduled its working committee meeting from April 24 to May 2 as it wants the IPL Governing Council -- which is expected to meet here on April 26, a day after the IPL final -- to first discuss the issue.

Pawar spoke with Modi at an ICC board meeting in Dubai on Monday night, where the two were attending a board meeting of the International Cricket Council.