Kundra wanted a T20 tournament in the Gulf, had even convinced a 'Pakistani company' to underwrite the event for $100 million

 

New Delhi: Beleaguered Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra had in 2010 lobbied with then IPL commissioner Lalit Modi to create a cricket tournament in the Middle-East, apparently on lines of Indian T20 tournament. 

 

The revelation came out during 12-hour long interrogation of Raj Kundra, who admitted to have betted in the previous three editions of the IPL.

 

Exclusive details of the correspondence between Kundra and Lalit Modi, accessed by Hindustan Times, suggest that the Kundra had even approached a Pakistani company to apparently invest in the new tournament.

 

The emails talk of a Pakistani company which had offered to insure the event for 10 years for $10 million per year. Police sources have refused to divulge the name of the Pakistani company at this point in the investigation.

 

But sources in the Delhi Police have pointed out that since the whole betting racket is being allegedly controlled from Pakistan by the D-company, Kundra’s ‘unguarded confession might put him in further trouble’.

 

For now, if he is a suspect or a witness in the case hasn’t been decided. If Kundra was also involved in 'spot-fixing' has also not been confirmed so far.

 

"I have just had initial meetings with Sheikh Nayan (perhaps a reference to the sports and education minister of UAE)," Kundra wrote to Modi on April 8. "He has also told me that BCCI or no BCCI, the Middle East is creating a league for themselves as they have spent hundreds of millions on infrastructure, stadiums and academies."

 

"If we do don't get the BCCI associated in some way with the middle-east league then the Pakistanis will come and make a mess of it with no financial gain to any of us and will certainly add to the dilution of our brand," Kundra had reportedly also written to Lalit Modi.

 

Modi, reportedly, was not keen on Kundra’s proposal and dissuaded him by highlighting that a franchisee owner going out and holding discussions for a separate league could amount to breach of contract.

 

Meanwhile, the fate of Rajasthan Royals hangs in balance after Raj Kundra admitted to having betted in the IPL. According to BCCI rules, any franchisee owner found involved in betting may risk the prospect of his team being terminated from the IPL.

 

 In case of Gurunath Meiyappan, Chennai Superkings may meet the same fate if it is proved that he was the owner of the franchisee.