Lalit Modi begins unlikely comeback tour, named Rajasthan Cricket Association president

The disgraced founder of the Indian Premier League, after a protracted legal battle, was finally declared on Tuesday the president of the state association.

In this photograph taken on March 5, 2012, former chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament Lalit Modi, poses as he leaves The High Court in central London, after a hearing in a libel case. Lalit Modi, the disgraced founder of the IPL, was on May 6, 2014, declared the winner of elections to head the state Rajasthan Cricket Association in the first step of an unlikely comeback bid. Carl Court / AFPShow less

Lalit Modi, the disgraced founder of the Indian Premier League, was declared the winner Tuesday of elections to head a state cricket association in the first step of an unlikely comeback bid.

Modi, who is exiled in London after his passport was revoked by the Indian government over corruption allegations, was finally named as president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association following elections last December after the Supreme Court allowed the results to be announced.

The delayed announcement was the result of a legal challenge mounted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the organisation behind Modi’s fall from grace four years ago.

There was no immediate comment from the BCCI, which last September had banned Modi for life from holding any cricket post after finding him guilty of “serious” acts of indiscipline and misconduct.

The governing body had also warned the Rajasthan association at the time that it could be suspended from fielding teams in official domestic tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy and youth events.

When Modi was banned in September, he held no post in the BCCI, having already been removed as IPL chairman and BCCI vice-president after the end of the third edition of the popular Twenty20 league in 2010.

The 50-year-old scion of a business family, who is also being investigated by the government on corruption and money-laundering charges, has in the past denied all allegations against him.

The life ban was unrelated to spot-fixing and betting scandals currently swirling around the IPL, which made the Supreme Court force BCCI chief N Srinivasan to stand down until investigations were completed.

The IPL, which began in 2008, features the world’s top players signed up for huge fees by companies and individuals in a glitzy mix of sport and entertainment.

Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE