English
Indian
العربية
Español
Deutsch
Türkçe
Русский
Français (Afrique)
Shady control on cricket`s glittering lights?
In a sensational disclosure, former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi revealed for the first time that alleged life-threatening intimidation from underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his crime syndicate was one of the single biggest reasons behind his decision to permanently retire from cricket administration.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Lalit detailed how his unyielding stance against match-fixing during the initial years of the IPL directly collided with the multi-billion-dollar underground betting empire controlled by the D-Company. He asserted that the syndicate operates an unimaginably vast "Satta Bazaar" where odds change with every single ball.
"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. It`s huge. It`s unimaginably huge. Every ball, there`s an odd chance. It`s the Satta Bazaar. Nobody fixes games anymore. You fix overs. You fix the ball," Lalit revealed. sport-ipl.my
Explaining the sophisticated spot-fixing methods where bookies target individual balls or specific overs through covert on-field signals, Lalit added, "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. Okay, we watch for these signs. We look for these signs."
He stated that because he strictly monitored these signs and refused to cooperate, he became a primary target for the mafia. "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. And I threw a lot of people out of the stadium. I banned a lot of people from coming. It wasn`t liked by the mafia," he noted, adding that he rejected massive bribes: "They offered me hundreds of millions of dollars to look the other way."
Recalling a sequence of events from 2012, Lalit recounted an incident where a London-based fixer orchestrated a late-night meeting at a penthouse belonging to a well-connected intermediary named Baba. During this meeting, the intermediary allegedly called Dawood Ibrahim directly via a satellite phone from his terrace and placed the fugitive don on speakerphone to pressure Modi into facilitating an IPL franchise for the syndicate.
"I have not told this story to anybody... I`m called at 3.30 in the morning... He (fixer) says, `You have to come and meet this guy, Baba. And you have to come now.` I thought maybe it`s something important. So I go to Baba`s house. There, he (Baba) says, `You have left India, we need an IPL team.` I said I am not even in India. Why do you need an IPL team? Whoever wants to go and buy from someone can go buy it. Moreover, I`m not even going back to India; there is a Dawood problem there. To which he said, `I will fix it in a minute,`" Lalit recounted.
"The intermediary then went out onto his terrace, took out a satellite phone, and allegedly dialled Dawood Ibrahim directly. "He goes on his terrace. He takes out his satellite phone and calls Dawood on the phone. Baba says, `Dawood bhai, Lalit bhai aaya hai. Baat karo.` (Dawood Bhai, Lalit bhai has come. Talk to him.) I said I`m not talking. So he put the call on speaker. I again said, I`m not talking. And he (Dawood) simply says, `You are his friend, forget everything, it is all over,`" Lalit disclosed.
The former IPL chief further disclosed that his refusal to comply triggered a relentless wave of coordinated retaliation across the globe, forcing law enforcement agencies to intervene.
"Bombay police recorded everything. It was chatter that came from the Bombay police. Bombay police put me on Z-security. I didn`t ask for it. All of a sudden, I had Z-security. There was a shootout outside my house in Bombay. There was a hit for me in Johannesburg. And I`m in Cape Town, which was picked up by the South African government. There was a hit on me in Montenegro, which was picked up at the Croatian border. My son was kidnapped in London on Sloane Street, right there... by a guy called Baba Avin. He lived on Park Street," Lalit claimed.
Lalit alleged that the underworld`s hostility escalated drastically when he successfully relocated IPL Season 2 to South Africa, disrupting massive betting syndicates that had wagered the tournament would not happen. "They accused me of moving IPL to South Africa when they thought it was not going to move because they ate the bets up. So 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. I don`t have anything to do with it," he explained.
Lalit claimed that this multi-layered standoff was only defused after top syndicate operative Chhota Shakeel gave a live interview confirming that the mafia had resolved its issues with Lalit Modi. When asked what exactly was resolved, Lalit clarified that it was his personal guarantee to completely step away from the sport that saved his life.
"He (Chhota Shakeel) said we have resolved issues with Lalit Modi... I just said I will retire from cricket. I gave my word I would retire. It`s one of the biggest reasons. One of the biggest reasons. Why would I subject myself to media pressure, government pressure, and then life-threatening pressure?" Lalit said.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
Shreyanka Patil reveals why Virat Kohli remains her 'greatest inspiration' ahead of ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026
India women's national cricket team all-rounder Shreyanka Patil has revealed the one cricketer who continues to motivate her every single day, and it is none other than Indian batting icon Virat Kohli. Ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, Shreyanka spoke about her admiration for Kohli and revealed why the former India captain remains her biggest inspiration.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is all set to get underway on June 12 in England, with the India women's national cricket team kicking off its campaign against the arch-rivals Pakistan women's national cricket team on June 14 at Edgbaston.
Shreyanka Patil makes heartfelt Virat Kohli admission ahead of ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026
As India prepares for the mega event, Shreyanka Patil said that Virat Kohli is her greatest inspiration, not only because of his success on the field but also because of his fitness, discipline, dedication, and never-give-up attitude. She said Kohli’s qualities continue to motivate her every day.
Being part of the same franchise—Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL)—has made that connection even stronger. Kohli's commitment to RCB over the years and hunger to improve and never settle for less have left a massive impact on the talented all-rounder.
Shreyanka Patil said in an ICC video, “My greatest inspiration, still, that I get inspired by, is Virat Kohli, none other than Virat Kohli, the greatest of all time. I don't know because I'm an RCB girl as well, and then he plays for the same franchise. He's just inspired not only in terms of cricket but also the fitness, the hard-working ability, and all of that, not just cricket but all together put in; I think he's just great.”
Shreyanka Patil reveals the Virat Kohli moment she can never forget
Meanwhile, the Indian off-spinner also opened up about an unforgettable moment she will cherish forever. After RCB Women scripted history by winning their first-ever WPL title in 2024, there was a grand celebration at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, and they were welcomed by members of the men's side.
During the celebration, Kohli personally acknowledged Shreyanka’s achievement and congratulated her on something she never expected, and it has now become the unforgettable moment of her career.
She added, “After winning the 2024 WPL for the RCB team for the first time ever, we went into the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the men's team actually started congratulating us, and he said, 'Well done, Sriyanka,' and that was a wow moment for me, and I will never forget that.”
View this post on Instagram
Virat Kohli powers RCB to historic IPL glory
Recently, the Rajat Patidar-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru scripted history by winning the IPL 2026. They become the only third team in the tournament’s history to defend the IPL trophy after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI).
And Kohli played a crucial role in RCB’s historic title triumph. The dashing right-hander amassed 675 runs at a staggering career-best strike rate of 165.85 in the IPL 2026. He will now be seen in Indian colors in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan at home.
Bad news for Virat Kohli after winning IPL 2026 with RCB, star player is set to be…
India vs Afghanistan 2026: Former India captain Virat Kohli was enjoying the high of winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) title for the second successive season, leading the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to win in IPL 2026 final with a brilliant unbeaten 75 against Gujarat Titans on Sunday. But days after the IPL 2026 final, there is some bad news for the fans of Vira Kohli as the star batter is set to ruled out of three-match ODI series against Afghanistan starting in Dharamshala on June 13.
In what will be a huge blow for Shubman Gill’s Team India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) indicate that Kohli has been ruled out of the ODI series with a hamstring injury. “He is out of the ODI series due to a hamstring injury,” a BCCI was quoted as saying by PTI.
Kohli has been known for his unmatched fitness even after turning 37 years of age, was in stunning form in the IPL 2026 season, scoring 675 runs in 17 matches with a strike-rate of over 165. With Kohli ruled out, there is doubt over the participation of another former captain – Rohit Sharma – in the ODI series as well.
It remains to be seen if Rohit Sharma is available for the whole series against Afghanistan as he has to travel to BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru to get clearance to play in the ODIs after suffering from a hamstring injury in IPL 2026 while turning out for Mumbai Indians.
He was included in the squad subject to fitness after a hamstring injury affected his IPL 2026 appearances with MI.
Also Read | WATCH: Virat Kohli’s chat with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi goes VIRAL as RCB star tells him, ‘Ek Bihari sab pe…’
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had both got injured in MI vs RCB match
Both former India captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had got injured in Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 match at the Wankhede Stadium in April. After the MI vs RCB match on April 12, Rohit’s next IPL 2026 appearance came on May 4 against Lucknow Super Giants. MI opener Rohit ended up scoring only 283 runs in 9 matches with a strike-rate of 157.22 with 2 fifties out of 14 games played by his team.
Apart from Kohli and Rohit, MI captain and all-rounder Hardik Pandya also remains doubtful for the Afghanistan ODI series due to back spasms. Pandya is set to report at BCCI’s CoE later this week for taking part in fitness drills and proving his fitness to get selected for the ODI series.
Kohli has scored 14797 runs in 311 games in ODI cricket with record 54 centuries and 77 fifties at an average of 58.71 with a strike-rate of 93.82. In the 2026 season, Kohli has scored 240 runs in 3 matches at an average of 80 with a strike-rate of 105.26 with 1 century and 1 fifty to his name.
The Indian cricket fans will be hoping that Kohli will regain his fitness for the three-match ODI series against England in the UK next month.
T20 Mumbai League: Suved Parkar’s ton in vain as BB lose to NMP
North Mumbai Panthers (NMP) defeated Bandra Blasters (BB) via Super Over on Wednesday in a T20 Mumbai League (TML) match that saw quite a few records broken.
BB first posted 228-5, the second highest total in the TML. In reply, NMP posted 228-8 to force the match into the
Super Over.
BB rode on captain Suved Parkar’s 54-ball 110 (10x4s, 7x6s), a joint highest individual score. Parkar’s 100 off 46 balls was TML’s fastest ton.
NMP’s Hardik Tamore made 83
The BB innings witnessed 15 sixes, the most by a team. Parkar and opening partner Prateek Kumar Yadav (33) began well, raising 101 in just 7.5 overs. In reply, NMP wicketkeeper-batter Hardik Tamore (83 off 39 balls, 10x4s, 4x6s) scored TML’s fastest fifty, off just 17 deliveries, one less than Sumeir Zaveri on Monday and Rakesh Prabhu in 2019. In the Super Over, NMP posted 20-1 while BB managed just seven runs. Parkar had mixed emotions after the match. “I’m a bit disappointed, but will rate my century highly as this came at the Wankhede and is my first T20 ton. We will try to win the next three matches now,” said Parkar.
Brief scores
BB 228-5 (S Parkar 110, P Yadav 33; P Mishra 3-38) lost to NMP 228-8 (H Tamore 83, A Kundu 39, T Kotian 32, V Mali 32; S Chhabriaa 3-9, D Matkar 3-32) by Super Over