Corruption charges overshadow Chennai victory in IPL 3

The morning headlines should have been about the Chennai Super kings and their victory over Mumbai to secure the IPL tile, but instead tales of corruption involving BCCI chief Lalit Modi overshadowed the tournaments glorious finale.

Modi is widely credited as the founding father of the IPL, with the club franchises racking in more than $720 million when they were auctioned off in 2007, while the annual player auction regularly sees stars such as MS Dhoni go for in excess of $1 million.


Its soaring popularity over the past three years has seen it become a billion dollar industry and has breathed new life into the game, attracting new sponsors and rich benefactors especially in the cricket-mad subcontinent.

But all that could now be tainted by the allegations against Modi, which has seen him suspended from his role as IPL chairman for "alleged acts of individual misdemeanours," believed to be related to initial bids for the Rajasthan and Punjab team franchises, the IPL's broadcasting deal, alleged bid rigging for two new franchises that will start next year and the competition's internet rights.

Modi himself suggested in an emotional post match speech that he maybe be taking the rap for what is wider corruption the game, and his departure will allow for a swift conclusion to the affair so we can all focus on what matters - the game itself.

That is because, without doubt, the IPL has been a huge success. It has attracted the world's top cricketers and really entrenched Twenty/20 into the cricketing calendar. The upcoming Twenty/20 World Cup in the West Indies is further evidence of the formats success, with players and fans embracing it alike - Australia's cricket odds make them favourite for the tournament.

The IPL will survive, it has makes too much money not too, but it would be a shame if such allegations continue to dog future tournaments, it has already cast a shadow of this year’s final and the upcoming World Cup.

Maybe next time the headlines will be about what happened on the pitch.

Meanwhile, in football news, England remain third favourites in the 2010 FIFA World Cup betting.