England news

Clarke and IMG reach settlement

	Giles Clarke is still being pursued by former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi for libel © Getty Images

The expensive legal battle between Giles Clarke,chairman of the ECB, and the American sports marketing firm, IMG, has been settled out of court.

The dispute had dragged on for nearly three years since Clarke alleged in an email to a BCCI official that there were secret plans to introduce a rebel Twenty20 League in England.

An ECB media statement said: "In May 2010 Giles Clarke CBE, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, sent an email to the president of the Board of Control for Cricket In India, the contents of which were subsequently widely reported in the British and international media which resulted in libel proceedings being issued by IMG.

"This statement confirms that Mr Clarke accepts that IMG did not act in breach of ICC rules and intended to act within the official structures of world cricket.

"IMG accepts that Giles Clarke was not intending deliberately to damage its reputation.

"On that basis the parties have agreed to settle the litigation on confidential terms."

Clarke was furious when representatives of several England first-class counties met with IMG representatives and the former IPL commissioner, Lalit Modi, in Mumbai as they sought a fresh approach to the promotion of T20 cricket in England.

Modi has still said that he intends to pursue his action against Clarke in the High Court in June.