Lalit Modi sends defamation notice to ECB chief Clarke

Lalit Modi today served a defamation notice on England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke, who had accused the suspended IPL Commissioner of hatching a plan to destroy the structure of world and English cricket.

Modi's defamation notice mentions Clarke's May 2 e-mail to BCCI President Shashank Manohar wherein the ECB boss had accused the suspended IPL chief of seeking to float a rebel league in England, violating International Cricket Council regulations.

The defamation notice was sent to Clarke through Modi's London-based solicitors Carter-Ruck and it has given the ECB chief seven days' time to provide a "full and unconditional apology and retraction in a form, manner and terms to be agreed", according to sources close to Modi.

Modi's legal counsel Mehmood Abdi also confirmed the development.

In the notice, Modi said Clarke's allegation was based on Modi's March 31 meeting in Delhi attended by representatives of three English counties.

Modi has said in the notice that Clarke's claims are "utterly untrue" and that at no time did he get involved in "planning an unauthorised cricket league or tournament anywhere in the world which is not approved either by the ICC or ICC's member associations".

The notice also said that Modi was a member of the ICC committee which drafted the rules regarding unauthorised cricket, the sources said.

The concept of a rebel league would run contrary to the principles of IPL which itself is a part of the BCCI whose interest Modi had always sought to protect, said the notice sent to the ECB chief.

It also pointed out that Modi had always supported the governing structure of international cricket and believes it delivers strength to the sport, subject only to the requirement that the ICC and its domestic boards must exercise their powers fairly and reasonably.

In conclusion, the notice claimed that Clarke has caused Modi acute embarrassment and distress and has damaged his international reputation.

It also called upon Clarke to immediately provide a full and unqualified apology and retraction in a form, manner and terms to be agreed and also undertake not to repeat the same or similar allegations defamatory to Modi, sources said.

It also asked the ECB chief to make a proposal to compensate Modi for the damages that Clarke's communication was calculated to cause and pay reasonable legal cost.

Clarke has been put on seven days legal notice to comply with the demands or face libel action, sources added.