Thaindian News

London, May 8 (IANS) England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke is facing a possible legal action from sports marketing giant IMG for his allegations that the company was involved in planning an unofficial Twenty20 league in England.
Clarke had sent an e-mail to the Board for Cricket Control in India claiming that Lalit Modi and the Indian Premier League were attempting to undermine the authority of the ECB following a meeting with three counties, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Warwickshire in Delhi in March.

Clarke alleged that Modi was planning “to destroy world cricket’s structure and especially that in England, and create a new rebel league”. He also attacked IMG, which arranged the meeting.

“We also wish to take action against IMG for promoting this along with Mr. Modi and to seek their banning from world cricket,” The Telegraph quoted from the e-mail obtained by them.

IMG has reacted strongly to the allegations, calling them “baseless, untrue and defamatory”.

“IMG has a 50-year record of integrity and probity in the business of sports and at all time respects the authority and sovereignty of federations and governing bodies. This is a record IMG is proud of and will take any necessary steps to defend,” it said.

“IMG has not been involved in any plans in the quotes attributed to Mr. Clarke. Representatives from ECB member counties requested a meeting with Lalit Modi through IMG. An informal lunch meeting took place in Delhi and was attended by IMG executives,” IMG said,

“The matters discussed included a general conversation about the challenges currently facing English cricket and the theoretical discussions about the possible modelling and commercial potential of an English Twenty20 tournament.”

“As a matter of formality it was stated by IMG and acknowledged by all present prior to this discussion that the sovereignty and processes of ECB must at all times be respected, as must the relevant rules of all other official cricket bodies including the ICC. Any suggestion otherwise is baseless, untrue and defamatory.”

Meanhwile, The Telegraph claimed they are in possession of a letter sent to Modi April 13 and signed by the nine chairmen of Test match grounds, who are lobbying for a change to England’s Twenty20 structure.

The letter states clearly that talks with Modi would proceed only with the full knowledge of the ECB and that a meeting with Clarke would take place April 28. “Clearly it is important that we bring the ECB with us rather than create conflict, which would only result in delays and unrest,” it said.

But the letter also reveals the dissatisfaction among the most powerful counties in English cricket with the way the ECB has handled Twenty20 cricket. “There exists a unanimous strength of feeling between all clubs and MCC and a desire to create a new model for the long term future of the game in this country.”

“International cricket is dominating the landscape in England and Wales and domestic cricket is not being given the strategic focus required to capitalise on emerging opportunities,”

the letter said.