Conflict of interest a very serious issue, says Sourav Ganguly
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BCCI's President-elect Sourav Ganguly has insisted that the conflict-of-interest matter has been a big issue for Indian cricket in recent times and needs to be sorted. Ganguly has added that it is difficult to get cricketers into the system if the conflict issue always crops up in every situation.
In the last one year, Ganguly has been pulled up for his various roles, resulting in being a regular visitor to the BCCI ethics officer's chamber. His role as a commentator, a member in the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) and for being on the coaching staff of the IPL franchise Delhi Capitals resulted in Ganguly being pulled into the issue, with the major contention being the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal.
Ganguly had expressed his displeasure towards the conflict rule in the new BCCI constitution which asks one person to hold only one post in Indian cricket and after being elected to lead the board, he might bring an end to this, which he said in no uncertain words in the first press conference after the election.
"Conflict [of interest] is an issue. Whether you will actually get the best cricketers in the system, I am not sure because they will have other options to avail. Because if they come into the system and not get to do what is their livelihood, it is very difficult for them to be part of this system and make a difference," Ganguly said outside the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Monday after filing his nomination.
"So that's one issue which really needs to be looked at. Look at all the appointments that have happened in various forms whether it is the NCA (National Cricket Academy) or CAC or the appointment of batting coaches, fielding coaches, there has been issue with everything…commentators, IPL. This needs to be sorted as it is another very serious issue in Indian cricket."
After the ICC reworked the structure for the new financial model in 2017, India are supposed to get around 500 crores but to the surprise of many, they haven't received the fund as promised. Ganguly revealed that will be his primary calling card as the president of the BCCI.
"That's one area, we will have to take care of it because we have not received any money in the last three-four years from the ICC. Money in the sense what you deserve because India generates 75-80% of the (global cricket) revenue, so that is going to be one of the big agendas. Talks and discussions need to happen and we need to find a solution because this is not leading anywhere," Ganguly said.
