Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Lalit Modi Supports State T20 Leagues, Urges Strong Governance
Lalit Modi said state-level T20 cricket leagues can help young players show their skills.
He believes these leagues can give talented players a path toward the IPL.
However, he said the leagues must be managed very carefully.
Smaller tournaments could be targeted by bookmakers or people trying to fix matches.
Players and officials should be taught about corruption risks.
League owners, payments and contracts should be checked openly.
Independent audits and betting monitoring should also be used.
Modi said state cricket associations must have honest and strong leadership.
He warned that growing cricket without proper rules could hurt the sport.
Lalit Modi called state T20 leagues a positive development for Indian cricket.
He said properly structured leagues can help young players reach the IPL and higher levels.
Modi warned that smaller leagues may face risks including match-fixing, player manipulation and conflicts of interest.
He urged state associations to use anti-corruption protocols, independent audits and transparent contracts.
Modi said state associations must be transparent and prevent cricket administration from being controlled by a few individuals.
- Who
- Lalit Modi, founder of the Indian Premier League, made the comments.
- What
- He backed the growth of state T20 leagues while calling for strict governance and anti-corruption safeguards.
- Where
- The comments were reported from New Delhi.
- Why
- Modi said state leagues can develop young talent but may be vulnerable to corruption without adequate oversight.
League Expansion
Governance First
Value of state leagues
League Expansion
State T20 leagues can create opportunities for young and undiscovered players and help them reach the IPL.
Governance First
Their expansion could become a liability if professional management, independent governance and integrity protections do not grow alongside it.
Oversight of cricket administration
League Expansion
State associations can supervise leagues and help them develop within the wider IPL ecosystem.
Governance First
Associations themselves must be independently examined and held accountable when questions about transparency, conflicts or powerful administrators arise.
- Speaker
- Lalit Modi, founder of the Indian Premier League
- Subject
- The growth and governance of state T20 leagues in India
- Talent pathway
- Modi said the leagues could help undiscovered players progress to the IPL and higher levels.
- Integrity risks
- Potential risks mentioned include bookmakers, match-fixing, spot-fixing, player manipulation and conflicts of interest.
- Recommended safeguards
- Player education, owner and official scrutiny, transparent contracts, independent audits and betting-pattern monitoring.
- Association governance
- Modi said state cricket associations should provide transparent, accountable and independent oversight.
- Specific example
- He cited publicly raised allegations and controversies involving governance and transparency at the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association.
