CoA is facing practical problems in implementing the conflict of interest guideline on a daily basis. After a brief discussion with current and ex-cricketers, Diana Edulji said on Monday that a “white paper” will be prepared to detail the issues for future functioning with ease.
The Story
Stalwarts like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Ganguly and VVS Laxman have faced alleged conflict issues at various points in time. Today Edulji and her colleague Lt Gen (Retd) Ravi Thodge met cricketers, including Sanjay Manjrekar, Irfan Pathan, Parthiv Patel, Ajit Agarkar, Rohan Gavaskar, and former Indian cricket team captains Dilip Vengsarkar and Sourav Ganguly to discuss the problems.
Followed by the same, Edulji on Monday told reporters that all the issues were discussed- the problems being faced by cricketer and the problems being faced by the CoA members to implement it. She mentioned, “Sourav (Ganguly) was also there on Skype putting his (views). Good suggestions did come in and also that we will formulate a white paper and put it to the Amicus (Curiae) who would submit it to the (Supreme) Court.”
The cause, concern, and solution
Cricketers often fulfil dual roles like player-commentator, commentator-IPL-franchise staff, commentator-administrator-franchise mentor, BCCI post-IPL franchise employee. This creates a basic conflict. Although the new BCCI constitution makes it clear that it will be ”One Person One Post” and violation of that is deemed ”Conflict of Interest”, the whole issue needed special attention. That is why CoA called for this meeting.
The former India women’s captain informed that the next meeting in presence of Vinod Rai will address these issues further. “We will sit in our next meeting and discuss all these points. We are trying our level best to see what is best for cricket. We don’t want to hamper anybody but also stay within the rules.”
But she did not throw lights on the contents of ”White Paper” as it is still under process. She mentioned, “We have our people making the drafts and thereafter we have the discussions and then we will present it to the amicus.”
