Conflict Of Interest Complaint Filed Against Candidature Of Sandeep Patil In MCA Elections

The country’s largest and richest cricket association, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), the election is to be held on October 20. Former BCCI president Sharad Pawar’s faction will test its luck in the elections against the current president and BJP MLA Ashish Shelar.

Former India coach Sandeep Patil filed his nomination for the post of president of the Mumbai Cricket Association on Saturday, October 8 on behalf of the Sharad-Pawar group. A conflict of interest complaint was filed against Sandeep hours after he filed his nomination. The source of the complaint was Patil’s relationship with Mumbai head selector Salil Ankola.

“The complainant submits that the Respondent (Patil) here is not eligible and/or qualified for submitting his nomination form for (the) Post of President and/or a member of Apex Council of MCA, as the Respondent is not eligible and/or disqualified under Rule 38(v) (Conflict of Interest) of the constitution of the MCA (sic),” Sanjay Naik, the joint secretary of the association, says in his complaint.

“It is pertinent to note that, the daughter-in-law of the Respondent, i.e. Mrs Sana Patil nee Sana Ankola is the daughter of cricketer Salil Ankola, who is the present chairman of the selection committee, Mumbai Sr Selection Committee (here in referred to as ‘said committee’).

Hence, the daughter of said Mr Salil is the daughter-in-law of the Respondent herein, therefore there is close relation between the Respondent and the daughter-in-law of Mr Salil Ankola, i.e. the chairman of the said committee and thus the same is clearly in Conflict of Interest as defined under Rule 38 (v) of the said constitution of MCA (sic),” Naik says in his 13-page complaint before Ombudsman Dilip Bhosle.

Patil stated that he does not need to comment on the complaint and that he believes the authorities will make the right decision.

“Why should I comment on the complaint. Everyone has a right to contest and a right to complain. Ombudsman or the Election Officer, they need to take the call on the complaint and I have confidence in their abilities to rightly adjudicate the matter. The Pawar Group stand is not to comment on the complaint.”

Sandeep Patil represented India in 29 Test matches and 45 One-Day International (ODI) matches. He has scored 2593 international runs and picked up 24 wickets. The 66-year-old was also a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team.

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