Sourav Ganguly appointed Delhi Capitals advisor, says NO conflict of interest - This is how

Sourav Ganguly has been appointed as the advisor of the Delhi Capitals side for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2019 edition. However, following his appointment, there were murmurs about a potential conflict of interest. When Rahul Dravid was appointed as the mentor of the Delhi Daredevils while coach of India A and the Under-19 teams, the Committee of Administrators said no India coach should be part of any IPL franchise. Ganguly is the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and thus his appointment raised murmurs of another potential conflict of interest. However, sources told Newsnation that there was a difference regarding Dravid and Ganguly’s situation, stating that Dravid is a BCCI employee while Ganguly is not. 

Now, the former India skipper has cleared the air that there is no conflict of interest and that his role as advisor of Delhi Capitals was given the go-ahead by the Committee of Administrators themselves. Speaking to the Indian Express, Ganguly said he did not influence anything concerned with the IPL and that he had stepped down from all committees. “If I’m a BCCI administrator and I get into the IPL, then it’s a conflict. I had been a player. It is the (former) player that has been given the job. This is also an advisory role, Ricky Ponting is the head, and it’s an honorary role,” Ganguly told the Indian Express. 

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The clause relating to the conflict of interest in the BCCI’s new constitution is clear. “When the BCCI, a Member, the IPL or a Franchise enter into contractual agreements with entities in which the individual concerned or his/her relative , partner or close associate has an interest. This is to include cases where family members, partners or close associates are in positions that may, or may be seen to compromise an individual’s participation, performance and discharge of roles,” according to Clause 38 (1) (i) of the BCCI constitution. 

Delhi Capitals CEO Dhiraj Malhotra also told the Indian Express that Ganguly had earlier resigned from the IPL Technical committee and that there was no scope of a conflict of interest. “Sourav has already taken approval from the CoA. It was only after he received all clearances from the BCCI that he agreed,” Malhotra said. 

Delhi Capitals have never won the IPL and they will be determined to break their rut as they look to put in a fine performance in this season.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Delhi Capitals has never won the IPL.
• Sourav Ganguly is currently the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal.
• The CoA had apparently given the go-ahead for Ganguly's appointment as Delhi Capitals advisor.