BCCI's Shukla briefs PM for a second time on IPL row

New Delhi, Apr 21 (ANI): Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) Finance and Media Committee Chairman Rajiv Shukla on Wednesday briefed Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh about the ongoing controversy surrounding the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Shukla also briefed Dr. Singh about IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi and the other people involved in the controversy, and revealed the BCCI's stand on the issue.

This was Shukla's second meeting with the Prime Minister on the issue.

Wednesday's meeting comes close on the heels of the opposition demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into IPL money laundering and gambling allegations.

The row has put a question mark on Modi's continuance as IPL Commissioner.

Shukla has hinted that the BCCI would not hesitate to take tough decisions to save the image of the Board and also to protect the interest of cricket.

"The question of people refusing to back down or not, they don't matter. After the meeting between BCCI President Shashank Manohar and Sharad Pawar on Tuesday, it has been decided that in the April 26 Governing Council meeting, we will sit together and unanimously decide what to do," Shukla said.

Shukla's statement follows alleged reports of Modi's refusal to step down.

Shukla said the BCCI has never compromised with its image and in protecting the interest of cricket.

"These decisions would in the interest of cricket and the BCCI. No matter how harsh they might seem, decisions would be taken to protect the BCCI and cricket's image in the country. We have never compromised on our image in the past 60 years and there would be no compromise this time too," he said. (ANI)