Australian spin bowling legend Shane Warne believes the Indian Premier League will get “bigger and bigger” despite its architect Lalit Modi facing corruption charges. He said he was hoping the charges would not spell the end of the IPL.
Warne said the first he heard about the charges against lalit Modi was after he flew out of India following his IPL team Rajasthan Royals being knocked out of this year’s competition in mid-April.
“As soon as we didn’t make the finals I left on a plane then saw all the reports,” Warne said in Brisbane on Tuesday. “It’s obviously a difficult time for him (Modi) - it will be interesting to see what happens. He created the IPL, it was his baby, his vision to create the IPL which turned into over a $4 billion business in three years which is pretty special. It shows he knows what he is doing.
“All the ins and outs behind the scenes, I have absolutely no idea - I am sure in time it will all come out.” Warne said there is “nothing like it (IPL) in the world. Let’s hope it all works out, everything was above board going forward - I still think the IPL is a massive tournament,” he said. “There’s nothing like it in the world where all the different countries play together.
“You learn off each other, you become friends with opposition players so it helps the spirit of the game. And it is great for young players to get over there and experience those conditions. I am sure it is going to get bigger and bigger.”
Warne also told the Australian Associated Press he was unsure whether he would play another IPL season.