Lalit Modi reveals politics behind IPL’s move to South Africa

Former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi has opened up about the controversial decision to move the second season of IPL to South Africa in 2009. Speaking to Raj Shamani on his YouTube channel, Modi blamed the then ruling Congress party for the move, claiming political interference in the tournament’s scheduling.

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Modi explained that Congress viewed the IPL as a threat to their election campaigns, fearing that the tournament would distract crowds from attending political rallies. "Congress decided that IPL was bigger than anything and that it would hurt elections because people wouldn’t come to our rallies," Modi said. He claimed that Congress-ruled states started denying security for IPL matches, while non-Congress states were more willing to cooperate. This created a "tug-of-war," pushing IPL organizers to consider other options.

In response to the lack of security, Modi revealed that he was forced to consider alternative venues such as England or South Africa. He noted that the Indian government even withheld BSF security for BJP-ruled states, further complicating the situation. Modi stressed that moving the IPL abroad was the only option to preserve the tournament's momentum, saying, "If we do not do IPL 2, momentum will end. Everything will be finished."

This revelation sheds light on the political challenges faced during the early years of the IPL.