COA backs Rahul Dravid on conflict of interests allegations

COA backs Rahul Dravid on conflict of interests allegations

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The Committee of Administrators (COA) have thrown their weight behind Rahul Dravid after he was allegedly accused of not following the conflict of interests norm by renowned historian Ramchandra Guha. Dravid mentors Delhi Daredevils and also coaches India A and U-19 teams.

Ramchandra Guha, who recently resigned as the member of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators, accused Rahul Dravid of not following the conflict of interests norm as the former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman mentors Delhi Daredevils in the IPL along with heading the post of coach for the India A and India U-19 teams in his letter.

However, a source close to COA clarified in an interview to Cricketnext that Dravid is well within the limits of the rules laid down by BCCI and has not overstepped.

“While the question of conflict is fair, it is unfair to point fingers at Dravid or any other individual because there was no guideline laid down which stopped the individuals from working with an IPL team and the national team. The COA does realise that it is a case of conflict, but a solution is being worked on. So, as per the contract which Dravid had ahead of this year’s IPL, there is no case of violation,” the source clarified.

“But yes, the COA is working on the issue as a mentor or coach of an IPL franchise might be swayed in decision-making when he is with the national team. So, it is better to keep the two entities separate,” he added.

Dravid holds a 10-month contract with the BCCI for coaching the India A and U-19 teams and after the contracted period the 44-year concentrates on his job as the mentor of the IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils. The COA is planning to devise an approach that addresses the conflict of interests issue.

Apart from Dravid, various other members have similar contracts with the Indian board. India's fielding coach R. Sridhar and national team physio Patrick Farhart are a part of the Kings XI Punjab staff in the IPL whereas National Cricket Academy's chief physio Andrew Leipus works with the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise.

Earlier, Rahul Dravid wrote a letter to the committee to clarify the regulations and standards that are laid to help him perceive the situation better.

"Yes, I have written to the CoA explaining my position and explaining the background against which this perceived conflict of interest has happened," Dravid told ESPNcricinfo.

"By the BCCI's conflict of interest rules, I was absolutely not under a conflict of interest. If the rules have changed midway through the contract, then I think it is unfair to criticise me for breaking the rules or twisting the rules to suit my convenience," he added.

"My simple point is that, not only me but there are five or six of us who are in the same position. There needs to be clarity. If there is clarity, we will be in a position to take an informed decision. It is disappointing the way this got played out in the public without much understanding of the background."

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