London [UK], June 4: Lalit Modi, the former Commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has stated that media tycoon Rupert Murdoch became his "second-biggest enemy" following the cancellation of the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) due to the tragic events of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

In an interview in London, Modi recounted the challenging aftermath of the November 26, 2008, attacks, which led to the cancellation of the inaugural CLT20 tournament that was set for December of that year.

"Rupert Murdoch became my second-biggest enemy because I had sold the CLT20 rights to him, and that story is well-known," Modi remarked.

The first edition of the CLT20 was initially scheduled from December 3 to 10, 2008. However, due to the attacks, the tournament was postponed and ultimately cancelled when organizers could not find an appropriate time to reschedule. The competition finally launched in September 2009.

Modi asserted that even with the cancellation, broadcasters were still contractually bound to fulfill their agreements.

"I cancelled the Champions League in 2008, resulting in losses of several hundred million dollars for them. However, they were still required to pay us because the contract becomes active as soon as the team arrives. Rupert attempted to persuade me to annul the contract even after I departed, offering me hundreds of millions to do so. I accepted that money, but it made me another enemy," he explained.

Reflecting on his tenure in cricket administration, Modi noted that he faced formidable opponents, making it difficult to continue his fight.

"When you have such powerful adversaries, it becomes impossible to keep battling. So, you just have to step back and let things unfold," he added.

Murdoch's media empire was significantly linked to the CLT20 through ESPN STAR Sports, which had acquired the global commercial, marketing, and broadcasting rights for the tournament under a long-term agreement. The CLT20 was intended to be cricket's answer to football's UEFA Champions League, featuring top domestic T20 franchises worldwide.

Despite receiving substantial financial support, the tournament struggled to maintain viewership outside of India and was ultimately discontinued by the BCCI in 2015.

Lalit Modi is currently serving a lifetime ban from the BCCI due to findings of misconduct, indiscipline, and financial irregularities during the early years of the IPL.