IPL 2019: BCCI Ombudsman Summons Delhi Capitals Advisor Sourav Ganguly

Ever since Sourav Ganguly has accepted the role of advisor for Delhi Capitals, controversies have not left him.  The appointment came as a shocker as Ganguly is still the president of Cricket Association of Bengal. In fact,  Ganguly has been an administrator for more than five years. Unsurprisingly, there were suggestions that Ganguly’s association with an IPL franchise could be a case of conflict of interest.

The legendary batsman, however, had soon dismissed them. Ganguly had insisted that he already had the permission from the Cricket of Administrators. He had also stressed that as CAB president, he is in no way influencing anything in the IPL and that the position is purely honorary. Ganguly had also added that he has stepped down from all BCCI and IPL committees.

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“There is absolutely no conflict of interest. I resigned from the IPL governing council earlier. I have spoken to the CoA too before committing myself to the role,” Ganguly had told PTI.

However, the BCCI is yet not ready to give Ganguly the green light. BCCI Ombudsman Justice (Retd) D K Jain has summoned Sourav Ganguly for a hearing on April 20 over the conflict of interest situation. The CoA has requested the Ombudsman “to allow” Ganguly to continue in his dual role, provided he makes “full disclosures” of his interests.

But according to India TV, the BCCI note also stated that the Ombudsman needs to “examine” Ganguly’s dual role as “member of Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC)” as well as DC advisor. Recently, three Bengal-based cricket fans — Bhaswati Shantua, Abhijeet Mukherjee and Ranjit Seal — had alleged that Ganguly’s duty as a state association president is in direct conflict with his role as an advisor of an IPL franchise.

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“The parties may appear before the Ethics Officer, BCCI for a personal hearing on 20.4.2019 at 11 am, at New Delhi at the venue, which shall be communicated by the BCCI to the parties herein, by email, on or before 19.4.2019,” Justice Jain intimated to Ganguly’s legal counsel in an email.

Ganguly, meanwhile, has refuted the charge through a written affidavit through his legal counsel. Delhi Capitals will be playing Kings XI Punjab in Delhi on April 20 when Ganguly has been asked to meet the Ethics officer.