Conflict of interest: Question mark on future of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid in BCCI

Mumbai: Continuing its efforts to clean up the game, the BCCI on Sunday said it will put in place a Player Agent Accreditation System to ensure that those handling the cricketers' commercial interests are bound by a code of conduct. The idea of initiating a system like this comes right after the BCCI recently wrote to all cricket associations to sign an undertaking on the matter, and now according to several reports, plans to get the players to sign up too.

It is easier said than done with many veteran players holding top posts in the BCCI while also having lucrative deals with corporates and franchises. Past stalwarts such as Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have contracts with IPL franchises, or have connections with firms managing players etc. that clash with their BCCI duties.

Read: BCCI officials to sign 'no conflict of interest' undertaking

The Justice Lodha Committee verdict prompted the BCCI to act quickly resulting in the undertaking, which stops members of cricket associations from having any commercial interests associated with the game in order to ensure total transparency and utmost integrity.

A report in the ‘Indian Express’ looked at BCCI members who may run foul of the undertaking:

Anil Kumble: Chairman, BCCI’s technical committee, he is Mentor, Mumbai Indians, and co-founder of Tenvic, a company in the business of sports training and consulting.

Brijesh Patel: Chairman, BCCI’s new area development committee, and secretary, Karnataka State Cricket Association. He is Head (Cricket Operations) for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Ravi Shastri: Director, Indian cricket team, and contracted to the BCCI as commentator. Last commentary assignment was the ongoing Ashes. He is Member, IPL governing council.

Sunil Gavaskar: Contracted to the BCCI as commentator. He runs Professional Management Group, a sports marketing agency that has signed on a number of cricketers, including Mumbai batsman Sarfaraz Khan.

Sachin Tendulkar: Member, BCCI’s cricket advisory committee, he is Mentor, Mumbai Indians.

Rahul Dravid: Coach, India U-19 and India ‘A’, he is Mentor, Rajasthan Royals.

VVS Laxman: Member, BCCI’s cricket advisory committee, he is Mentor, Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Sourav Ganguly: Member, BCCI’s cricket advisory committee, and a broadcaster. Last commentary assignment was the 2015 ICC World Cup.

Sanjay Bangar: Coach, Indian cricket team, he also coaches Kings XI Punjab.

The BCCI now remains in a fix whether to include players also in the clean up process. Tough decisions await the top brass. Brijesh Patel said an exception should be made for cricketers. “The Supreme Court said that cricketers, former and present, could be involved in the game in a professional capacity. So there should be different rules for them. The whole issue needs to be discussed in the general body.”

“You’re talking about my involvement with Royal Challengers Bangalore. But what about Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble, who are part of the Mumbai Indians set-up? What about Dravid, who looks after Rajasthan Royals? Laxman is with Sunrisers Hyderabad. There’s no point targeting cricketers because the BCCI appointed them despite their IPL contracts. I think we should wait for the Lodha committee report before taking a decision,” Patel was quoted as saying in a report.

Read: 'Don't see any issue with conflict of interest agreement,' says Sourav Ganguly

Ajay Shirke, former IPL governing council member and BCCI treasurer, is on the side of cricketers.

“My personal opinion is that a cricketer’s direct involvement with the game is not conflict of interest. They’re contributing to cricket through coaching, commentary or representation in the (BCCI/state association) committees. They’re facilitating the cause of associations or cricket board. They’re nurturing our next generation. This is different from owning a team or having stakes in something with strong commercial interests. There has to be some rationale. If the cricketers stick to their primary job and contribute to the game, then I don’t think there’s an issue,” he said.

Following the Supreme Court’s order on the IPL verdict, Jagmohan Dalmiya had said, “The BCCI is concerned and determined to safeguard its integrity. Therefore, an introduction of a comprehensive Code of Conduct/Ethics by BCCI that determines and defines the most important core values for behaviour and conduct within BCCI as well as with external parties to ensure that administrators and officials are aware of the importance of their duties and associated obligations and responsibilities could also be a possibility in the near future.”