Indirect references aimed at Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly in new BCCI constitution

The Committee of Administrators (CoA), appointed by the Supreme Court, finished the forming up of new BCCI constitution recently. The new constitution aims at providing a better work structure for the most powerful cricket board in the world. Also, it aims at providing transparency and accountability of the board in India. The new constitution was uploaded on the official website of the BCCI too.

Under the new rules, there is a provision for the public to register complaints against the BCCI over ticket issues, access and facilities at the stadium issues. Various Memorandum of Associations, Rules and Regulations, etc. have also been listed in the constitution. The CoA has also made it clear that the club owners would be barred from being the office-bearers in the state associations because of conflict of interest rules. It is expected that the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) will be the worst hit state body due to this rule.

Amongst all the rules, the ones that stand out are about the conflict of interests. These rules have their descriptions that have indirect references to former Indian stalwart players Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly. Illustration One is a rule that can be seen as the one directed at Rahul Dravid. Dravid is currently the mentor of the Delhi Daredevils camp in the IPL. Also, he is the coach of India A and the U19 sides.

The clause quotes, “A is the coach of a team. He is also coach of an IPL franchisee. A is hit by conflict of interest.”

The second reference in Illustration One comes under ‘direct and indirect interest’. This, perhaps, has Sourav Ganguly as an aimed reference. Ganguly is a member of the IPL Governing council and is also having business relations with the owners of the Rising Pune Supergiants in the IPL. In addition to that, they also own the team of Atletico de Kolkata in the Indian Super League.

The clause states, “C is a Member of the IPL Governing Council. The IPL enters into a contract with a new franchisee, the Managing Director of which is C’s partner in an independent commercial venture. C is hit by Indirect Conflict of Interest.”