Lalit Modi, the founder and first commissioner of the Indian Premier League, has described the rise of state T20 leagues in India as a welcome development for the sport while stressing that strong governance and close oversight are essential to protect their integrity.
Modi, who ran the IPL from its launch until 2010, acknowledged the functioning of state leagues as a potential talent pathway for younger players, but acknowledged the need of integrity due to the possible approaches from bookmakers and other similar practices.
“I think state leagues are a positive development for Indian cricket. This was bound to happen as the IPL ecosystem grew, and if properly structured, these leagues can become an excellent pathway for young and undiscovered talent to perform under pressure, get noticed and potentially graduate to the IPL and higher levels,” Modi told the press.
“However, with the rapid growth of these leagues comes a serious responsibility. They must be professionally executed and very closely monitored by the respective state associations, with strong independent governance. My biggest concern would always be integrity. Smaller leagues can become particularly vulnerable to approaches from bookmakers, match-fixing, spot-fixing, player manipulation, conflicts of interest, questionable ownership or financial interests and other corrupt practices if adequate safeguards are not established from day one,” he added.
What safeguards did Modi call for to protect state T20 leagues?
Modi outlined a detailed set of measures he believes state associations must put in place before and during the operation of any T20 league. He also shed light on the value of the IPL as a commercialised development of the game.
“Every league should therefore have robust anti-corruption protocols, player education, strict control over access to players and dressing rooms, proper scrutiny of owners and officials, transparent contracts and payments, independent audits, and active monitoring of suspicious betting patterns. The IPL demonstrated the enormous value that can be created when opportunity, talent and commercialisation come together. The next generation of leagues must make sure that integrity grows just as quickly as the money does. Protecting the integrity of the game must come before everything else,” he said.
Why did Modi single out state association governance as a concern?
Beyond the leagues themselves, Modi argued that the governance of the state associations running them is equally important. He maintained that an association lacking transparency cannot be expected to run a clean league, and that administrators must be held accountable rather than allowed to operate without scrutiny. Modi cited the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association as a specific example where corruption runs rampant, and issued a warning to state associations about outside influence.
“UPCA is an example where, over the years, allegations and controversies concerning governance, transparency, conflicts and the influence exercised by powerful administrators have repeatedly been raised publicly. Rajiv Shukla has been a prominent figure associated with UPCA and Indian cricket administration. Rather than allowing such questions to linger, they should be independently examined and answered transparently. The lesson for every state association should therefore be simple: do not allow cricket administration to become a private club controlled by a handful of individuals,” he said.
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