Allow BCCI contracted commentators to write columns for newspapers: CoA to BCCI

Ever since the inception of the IPL in 2008, conflict of interest is one of the major talking points in Indian cricket. Earlier the Committee of Administrators (CoA) at the BCCI had circulated a directive that the coaches who are contracted to the national sides won’t be allowed to get associated with the Indian Premier League. Former India captain MS Dhoni too was on the receiving end because of the conflict of interest scenario.

The CoA came up with a move which might make the BCCI-contracted commentators happy. The CoA has asked the BCCI not to stop the commentators contracted with the body in writing columns or taking parts in some functions/award ceremonies. Earlier the BCCI had circulated conflict of interest disclosure policy which had the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Sanjay Manjerekar, Harsha Bhogle and Murali Kartik in a difficult situation. They have been voicing their opinion on the TV for a long time and also writing columns for the newspapers and various websites as well.

The CoA felt that this was in a way curbing the freedom of speech of the contracted commentators. The Committee has taken the decision when they met for a meeting on December 4 last year. On the BCCI website, the details have been published which read, “After the discussion, the COA decided that it would not impose any prohibition on commentators from either (i) writing sponsored columns for a newspaper; and /or (ii) participating in sponsored awards/rating programs.”

The CoA was appointed by the Supreme Court of India after the BCCI was avoiding working on the directives suggested by the Lodha Panel in order to make the BCCI a transparent body.

The document uploaded on the BCCI website had a number of other details which were discussed during the meeting which included the topic of Indian women cricket team’s tour of South Africa which starts from 24th January.