Before the start of the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League, Delhi Capitals had raised quite a number of eyebrows by appointing former India skipper Sourav Ganguly as their advisor. 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.
“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.
Well, he has now landed in hot water. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has asked him to respond to the charge of conflict of interest. On Monday, the BCCI ombudsman Justice DK Jain, who also serves as the board’s ethics officer, asked Ganguly for an explanation.
Three Kolkata residents, Ranjit Seal, Bhaswati Santua and Abhijeet Mukherjee, have written to Justice Jain asking how Ganguly could be allowed to be part of the Delhi Capitals set-up on April 12 when the team travels to Eden Gardens, home of the CAB, to play Kolkata Knight Riders.
Justice Jain has confirmed that he has already asked Ganguly to respond to the charges.
“Yes, I have asked Sourav Ganguly to respond to the complaints with regards to conflict of interest as Delhi Capitals advisor and state association president,” Jain told PTI.
