No question of truncating IPL, says Modi

Speaking to media persons at the BCCI office this morning, Lalit Modi, Indian Premier League (IPL)  commissioner said that the media must not encourage reports of the IPL being cut short.

"Why do you keep speaking of the IPL being truncated? There is no question of a shorter version of the IPL. We have many options for venues. We are working to come out with the final schedule." He added that there were a large number of backup options for the schedule.

"We have back up after back up after backup," he said.

Modi was at the BCCI reportedly for an emergency meet with other officials of the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament in Mumbai to work out a final schedule for the second edition of the tournament. Sources revealed that he also met Sharad Pawar. The dates are likely to be out tomorrow.

A meeting of the working committee of the board will be held on Sunday (March 22) at the board office.

The meeting is said to be is response to the fact that many state police officials - including the Maharashtra Police - have expressed reservations about providing security to the high-profile players, in which some matches, clashed with the Lok Sabha elections.

The schedule for the tournament that was to be held from April 10-May 24 has been changed three times as the Home Ministry expressed security concerns about holding the tournament at the same time as the General Elections. The latest schedule is yet to get the final approval from the Home Ministry.

Meanwhile there has been no conclusion on the legal battle that BCCI  has been fighting with Multi Screen Media (MSM) over telecast rights. Sources say negotiations are still on for an out of court settlement between the two parties.