VVS Laxman was in no position of a conflict of interest : BCCI

BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke has clarified that the allegations on VVS Laxman over ‘Conflict of Interest.’  Laxman was a part of the three-member advisory alongside Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar which interviewed candidates for the position of India head coach.

According to media reports, Laxman was the second-largest shareholder in Tenvic Sports Education Private Limited with 33,332 shares in the company.

However, BCCI issued a media release to clarify the statement.

“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would like to inform all concerned that at the time prior to the commencement of the functioning of the Committee to interview applicants for the job of Head Coach of the Indian cricket team, Mr. VVS Laxman had very categorically clarified his current position as well his previous association with Tenvic Sports,” a BCCI media release attributed to Shirke, stated.

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“It was during the course of the requisite communication, Mr. Laxman informed BCCI that he had sold his total shareholding of 5 per cent in Tenvic Sport in the month of March 2016 and also declared that he no longer held any shareholding or any official or unofficial position in Tenvic Sports. This took place prior to the commencement of the operations of this Committee.

“Mr. Laxman was therefore in no position of a conflict of interest at the time of selection of the head coach of Indian cricket team. All assumptions and conclusions to that effect are therefore erroneous,” Shirke added.

Anil Kumble’s involvement in Tenvic, a company “in the business of sports and consulting”, had also raised questions about a possible conflict of interest in the past. But, Kumble has always denied Tenvic, which has cricketers as clients, is a talent management company.

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Minutes after he was announced as India’s next coach, though, he tackled the conflict-of-interest question. “We [BCCI and I] have already discussed that,” Kumble said last week. “Whatever needs to be done will be done before I take up this role officially. That has been discussed, and it has been clear with the BCCI as well. Something that can be easily resolved.”