Agencies
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 3
Continuing its efforts to clean up the game, the BCCI is expected to put in place a Player Agent Accreditation System to ensure that those handling the cricketers' commercial interests are bound by a code of conduct.
Further details regarding the Code of Ethics and Agent Agreement will be discussed in the next working committee meeting of the BCCI. The BCCI had earlier notified all the Board members to sign an undertaking declaring that they do not have 'conflict of interest' while holding functionary posts in their respective cricket associations.
The 'no conflict of interest' clause would include no direct business links with any cricketing affairs in BCCI including interest or stake in IPL teams, sponsorships or looking after specific players' interests.
As the board toughens its stand on conflict of interest, some of Indian cricket's stalwarts could find themselves on the wrong side of the law according to a report in the Indian Express.Anil Kumble, apart from serving on BCCI's technical committee and being the mentor of IPL champions Mumbai Indians, co-owns a company called Tenvic that has interests in sports training and consulting.
Despite being Team India's director, Ravi Shastri continues to be contracted with the board as a commentator. He also is part of the IPL Governing Council.
Sunil Gavaskar co-owns a sports management firm PMG, which recently signed RCB and Uttar Pradesh batsman Sarfaraz Khan. The former India captain is also a BCCI contracted commentator.
Sachin Tendulkar is a mentor of MI and was also inducted into the high-profile cricket advisory committee of the BCCI.
Sourav Ganguly is also part of the cricket advisory committee and IPL Governing Council. Dada too takes up commentary assignments.
Rahul Dravid, coach of India's U-19 and A teams, is a mentor of the now suspended Rajasthan Royals side.
It now remains to be seen how serious the board is about cleaning up cricket. In order to eradicate conflict of interest from cricket administration, BCCI will now have to take some very tough decisions.
