Sourav Ganguly unlikely to be questioned in the AGM for endorsing fantasy gaming platform

It was speculated that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly can be cornered in the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) for endorsing a fantasy sports platform My11Circle, which is a competitor of the board’s official sponsor Dream11. However, the co-founder of Dream11 Harsh Jain cleared that they have absolutely no issue with Ganguly endorsing their direct rival.

Ganguly has been endorsing My11Circle for the last one year or so while BCCI’s official partner is Dream11, another fantasy gaming platform. Rather, Dream11 was the title sponsor of the IPL 2020 after Vivo pulled out at the last moment due to Anti-China sentiments.

According to the BCCI rules, “Any Administrator or their near relatives should not be associated with any company/organization that has entered into a commercial agreement with the BCCI. However, this will not apply to the smallholding of shares in a public limited company. An administrator or his near relative shall not be associated with a player management company or a player agent in any form either honorary or paid.”

“We are not concerned about Sourav Ganguly’s personal endorsements. This is BCCI’s internal matter and I have no further comment on this issue,” Jain, who is also the company’s chief executive officer, said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Sourav Ganguly had refused endorsement offers from TATA and BYJU’s

It is learned that Sourav Ganguly had broken all ties with JSW Group after taking up the role of BCCI president as JSW Group co-owns an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals. Also, the former Indian captain had also refused offers from companies like TATA motors and BYJU’s as they are directly associated with the Indian board.

“Sourav had declined endorsement offers from TATA motors and BYJUs as both were BCCI sponsors. So where does the question of conflict arise?,” a senior BCCI official said.

On being asked whether Sourav Ganguly will be questioned in the AGM Meeting, the BCCI official said, “At the height of the (IPL) fixing scandal in 2013 after N Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested on allegations of his involvement in spot-fixing, before every meeting the media used to write that Srinivasan would be cornered but I can tell you nothing of that sort happened. So why don’t we wait till the meeting gets over?”

Sports lawyer Vidushpat Singhania also favoured Sourav Ganguly saying that there is no harm in Ganguly endorsing My11Circle as Dream 11 didn’t put any clause regarding no BCCI official can be associated with their rival companies.

“If the BCCI’s sponsors had put a clause that none of the office bearers can be part of any rival company on individual capacity then the case of conflict arises. In this case, I don’t think Dream11 got that clause in contract. So then there is nothing wrong,” Singhania said.