Rahul Dravid clarifies 'Conflict of interest' clause with BCCI again

03/09/2018

Rahul Dravid has again voluntarily disclosed a possible ‘Conflict of interest’, for the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sport Excellence, to the BCCI but has asserted that he has no ownership in the project. Reports have also suggested that Amitabh Choudhary has refused to sign the new player contracts.

The ‘Conflict of interest’ clause has once again come to haunt India ‘A’ and India under-19 coach Rahul Dravid. This time it is for his involvement in the newly-built Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sport Excellence in Bengaluru. However, it is learnt that the former Karnataka batsman has written to the BCCI asking for clarification since he had no ownership in the centre.

“Dravid has voluntarily disclosed and clarified that the centre would bear his name, but he has no ownership interest in the company or in any of the academies run by it,” a top BCCI official told TOI.

Dravid is currently a co-chairman on the advisory board of the centre in question and according to TOI, the matter was brought to the notice of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA). Dravid will have to wait a little longer to know if he is clear of conflict of interest since the board is yet to appoint an ombudsman. However, the official revealed that Dravid should not have too much of a problem in this matter adding that once an ombudsman is appointed the matter will be referred to him.

“There should be no problem for Dravid in this but it’s always better to get a legal clarification before coming to any conclusion. Once an ombudsman is appointed, the matter will be referred to him,” the official said.

It is also learnt that the finance committee didn’t clear the fee structure before it was announced.

“The domestic players could have made more. But with the current structure, including the gross revenue share, they will not see any significant rise in their match fees. The board could have waited another 20 days as the international media rights were to be announced. That too could have been factored in,” a BCCI official

Also, the tension between the BCCI and CoA has increased as the board’s acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary has refused to sign the central contracts offered to the players. The acting secretary said that he was not a part of the process and with him being the convener of the selection committee, there was no meeting called as well.

“What I can tell you for sure is that I was not part of process. I can also tell you that nobody from the board was. I also happen to be the convenor of senior selection committee and no meeting was called. I won't sign (on the contracts) if they come to me,” Choudhary said.

Also, the CoA had decided that the acting president CK Khanna and Choudhary would be part of the panel appointing the manager for marketing and sales.

Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid clarifies 'Conflict of interest' clause with BCCI again

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