Lalit Modi has alleged that clashes with illegal betting networks, security concerns and mounting pressure from powerful syndicates influenced his decision to step away from cricket.
Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi claims underworld-linked intimidation and betting syndicate pressure were among the reasons behind his retirement from cricket administration. | ANI
Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has made a startling claim about his years in cricket administration, saying that fear for his life was one of the main reasons he chose to step away from the game. Modi alleged that threats linked to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his syndicate followed his efforts to curb betting and fixing during the IPL’s formative years.
Speaking to ANI in an exclusive interview, Modi said his tough stance against illegal betting networks put him on a collision course with powerful interests operating around the sport. He claimed the fallout went far beyond cricket, leading to security concerns and alleged threats across different countries, ultimately convincing him that retiring from cricket administration was the only option.
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Modi described the scale of illegal cricket betting as staggering, claiming that underground wagering around matches has grown into a multi-billion-dollar business.
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“Dawood Ibrahim is a known bookmaker. He controlled the cricket book. In those days, it used to be $2 billion of underground betting. Today, it’s $4 billion of underground betting a game,” Modi told ANI.
The former IPL chief said betting operations have evolved beyond traditional match-fixing and now focus heavily on spot-fixing, where individual deliveries or overs become the target.
Explaining how such activities allegedly operate, Modi claimed that subtle gestures by players can serve as signals for betting networks.
“We don’t know what success is. It’s become so sophisticated. Somebody takes out a handkerchief, somebody rubs something the other way, and it’s a sign,” he said.
Modi further alleged that he took a hard line against suspicious activity during the first few IPL seasons and barred several individuals from stadiums. According to him, these actions angered influential betting operators.
“If you look at the first three years when I ran the IPL, there was no fixing. I took a lot of people to task. I threw a lot of people out of the stadium,” he said, adding that he was allegedly offered large sums of money to ignore such activities.
Recounting an incident that he said took place in 2012, Modi alleged that he was summoned to a late-night meeting in London by a fixer and introduced to an intermediary known as “Baba”.
According to Modi, the intermediary pressed him to facilitate the acquisition of an IPL franchise and later contacted Dawood Ibrahim through a satellite phone.
Modi claimed the call was placed on speakerphone, but he refused to engage in the conversation. He alleged that the message conveyed to him was that past issues could be forgotten.
The former IPL commissioner said he did not agree to any such proposal and continued to keep his distance.
Modi alleged that his refusal to cooperate triggered a series of threats and security incidents.
He claimed Mumbai Police provided him with Z-category security after intercepting intelligence inputs and alleged that there were threats against him in India, South Africa and parts of Europe. He also claimed that his son was briefly kidnapped in London.
The allegations made by Modi could not be independently verified.
According to him, tensions further intensified after IPL Season 2 was shifted to South Africa in 2009. Modi claimed betting syndicates had expected the tournament not to take place and suffered heavy losses after the relocation was successfully executed.
“They lost a lot of money, apparently. So they wanted me to make good that money. I didn’t ask him to take the bet,” he said.
Modi said the standoff eventually eased after alleged assurances were communicated through underworld channels. He claimed that his commitment to permanently leave cricket administration became a key factor in ending the dispute.
“He said we have resolved issues with Lalit Modi,” Modi recalled while referring to an alleged public statement by Chhota Shakeel.
Asked what had changed, Modi said: “I just said I will retire from cricket. I gave my word I would retire. It’s one of the biggest reasons.”
Modi added that sustained media scrutiny, government pressure and what he described as life-threatening circumstances left him with little desire to remain involved in the sport.
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