Former Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi has revealed that fugitive underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim wanted control and influence over the IPL during its formative years. According to him, repeated pressure followed his crackdown on illegal betting networks linked to cricket.
Moreover, Modi explained that the IPL’s rapid commercial rise overlapped with underground betting systems. These networks, he said, held significant financial stakes in match outcomes. Consequently, any disruption to that ecosystem triggered strong resistance from operators connected to organised crime-linked gambling structures.
In addition, his anti-corruption measures between 2008 and 2010 targeted spot-fixing and suspicious activity. As a result, Modi said this crackdown unsettled established betting networks and increased friction between his administration and illegal operators.
Betting disruption and early tensions
Looking back at 2009, Modi said the IPL season became a turning point. The tournament shifted to South Africa due to India’s general elections. At the same time, he said betting networks had expected cancellation, and the relocation led to heavy losses in illegal wagering markets.
However, he rejected any involvement in betting outcomes and denied responsibility for those losses. Instead, he said the backlash emerged purely from his administrative role.
Meanwhile, he described the beginning of sustained pressure through intermediaries during this phase. Those interactions, he said, moved beyond financial grievances and gradually extended into attempts to influence IPL operations.
Why control over IPL, according to Modi
Further, Modi revealed that he was informed that Dawood Ibrahim and his network sought influence over the IPL because of its commercial and betting value. The league, he said, had evolved into a high-value ecosystem involving broadcasting rights, franchises, and wagering markets.
Therefore, he explained that influence over its structure carried strategic importance for illegal betting networks. Pressure, he added, emerged from attempts to gain leverage within that system rather than isolated financial disputes.
London meeting and satellite phone call
Meanwhile, Modi described a 2012 incident in London as a critical escalation point. Intermediaries, he said, arranged a late-night meeting where he was confronted under pressure.
During that meeting, he stated that a satellite phone call directly connected him to Dawood Ibrahim. He said he was informed that his role in cricket administration was over.
Subsequently, he added that the experience sharply altered his sense of security. Pressure, he said, did not stop there and continued through repeated contact via intermediaries linked to the same networks.
Wider pressure and personal risk
Beyond that incident, Modi said the intimidation was not limited to a single episode. He described sustained pressure across multiple countries, including India, South Africa, and parts of Europe.
Additionally, he referred to risk faced by his family, including an incident involving his son in London. According to him, these events created a persistent sense of vulnerability during and after his IPL tenure.
Exit from cricket and institutional action
Ultimately, Modi said he stepped away from cricket administration because the pressure became unmanageable. He maintained that leaving the sport was the only way to bring the situation under control.
In 2010, the Board of Control for Cricket in India suspended Lalit Modi over financial and governance concerns linked to IPL administration.
Later, in 2013, he was handed a lifetime ban from Indian cricket administration, formally ending his association with the sport.
Meanwhile, Indian agencies have continued to examine aspects of his tenure. However, Modi maintained that his exit from India and cricket was driven primarily by security concerns rather than administrative disputes.
Legacy and continuing controversy
As the architect of the IPL’s franchise-based model, Modi remains one of the most influential figures in modern cricket history. He transformed the league into a global sporting and commercial powerhouse.
His latest revelations involving Dawood Ibrahim have revived debate over the IPL’s early years and its exposure to illegal betting ecosystems.
For now, his account continues to fuel discussion around how sport, money and organised crime intersected during the league’s formative phase.
