BCCI meeting will sort out issues: Abdullah

Making it amply clear that IPL chairman Lalit Modi will have to face some tough questions at the upcoming BCCI Working Committee meeting, JKCA president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said there are some "issues" that need to be sorted out.

Modi is embroiled in a row with Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor over the ownership issue of IPL Kochi franchise.

The dispute has grown with each passing day and even reached the Parliament where Tharoor while explaining his position claimed that his role was just of a mentor in the Consortium that won the bid for the franchise.

Abdullah, who is also Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, lauded Modi's contribution in the development of the game but said some issues will be addressed at the meeting.

"Modi has made great contribution to revolutionise cricket in India but there are issues which would be sorted out during a scheduled BCCI meeting on April 24," he said.

"Further steps will be taken accordingly," he added.

The IPL Governing Council meeting will also be held soon after the conclusion of the third season and the issue of Modi's leadership style is likely to dominate the meet.

The whole dispute began when Modi revealed the names of the stakeholders on his twitter page and later said there was a question mark over the owners of the franchise.

It has been alleged that Sunanda Pushkar with the help of close friend Tharoor got free equity worth Rs 70 crore in the franchise, which has been vehemently denied by the Minister.

Abdullah refused to comment on Tharoor's statement in Parliament, saying he did not know what the Minister said.

"I have already asked the Parliament staff to provide me a copy and then only I will be able to comment on it," he said.

Abdullah had told a news channel that he favoured Tharoor stepping down to protect the "honour" of the government and said that the Kerala MP should have revealed his relationship with Pushkar right from the beginning.

Abdullah hoped the state would soon became an IPL venue and they have already procured land at Majalta in Jammu for the construction of a cricket stadium.

The T20 premier league which he inaugurated will see participation from about 120 state teams and clubs.