No question of protecting anyone - Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar, the ICC president, has said there was "no question of protecting anybody", including his one-time protégé Lalit Modi, if the person was found guilty of corruption. Pawar, a former BCCI president, credited Modi for the IPL's success but said he would not interfere in the board's "fair trial".

"If somebody has committed some mistake, he will have to face the music," Pawar told television channel CNN-IBN. "No question of protecting anybody, not only Modi but anybody.

"IPL, the product, has been a success in this country. It has established that India can also organise such things, and there he [Modi] has taken lots of pain, there are no two opinions about that. But his style of functioning has become controversial and the present board feels it should go in-depth [probe]. The board has deputed a committee, let us see what the outcome is. From what I know of BCCI it will take an appropriate decision and take steps to improve their functioning and image. I am confident that he has to be given a fair trial. But I can't interfere either way."

Modi was suspended immediately following the conclusion of IPL 3 and charged with financial irregularities relating to the bidding process for IPL franchises, the mid-over ad sales and the sale of theatrical rights. He was also charged with colluding to set up a rebel league in England.

Pawar was thought to be one of Modi's backers but he said that he was not supporting or opposing anyone. "All of us - myself, Modi and Manohar - have worked together as a group and have contributed something. But the present set-up feels something has gone wrong. So until these [wrongdoings] are not established, it is not proper for me to support or oppose one against the other. Basically I am keeping away from all this."

While admitting the controversies had affected the IPL's image to a certain extent, Pawar said it wasn't a scandal and that the overall position of the league wouldn't be damaged. "I don't think IPL's overall position will be damaged. But definitely, in the mind of cricket-loving people within India and outside, they have started thinking in a different way that there seems to be some wrong things happening.

"I don't think we have come to the conclusion [that it is a scandal]. There is difference between allegation and a scandal. One has to see how far these allegations are correct. The BCCI is going into details and it will definitely come to a conclusion and then we can say something."