The Story
Team India’s strength and conditioning coach – Shankar Basu – will face a set of tough question in coming days as close relations with newly appointed National Cricket Academy trainer Soham Desai has attracted the ‘conflict of interest’ problem for the veteran fitness guru.
The problem has arisen due to Desai’s association with Basu’s commercial venture – fitness center ‘Primal Patterns.’
This confusion has led to doubts over the procedure of the appointment made during a sub-committee meeting of the NCA. Some of the members of the committee did not refrain from asking GM (Game Development) MV Sridhar about the process.
Desai has previously worked with Gujarat Ranji team and recently got through an NCA trainers’ examination. While examination is a part of the selection process, the problem, however, lies in the fact that Basu apparently set the question paper.
Closeness with Basu brings Desai under scanner
All these allegations have brought Desai’s appointment in the ‘Conflict of Interest’ zone.
“Sridhar was asked specifically that whether Desai is related to Basu’s personal gym. Sridhar replied that the candidate stood second in the exam that was conducted by the BCCI. To this treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary asked a pointed question: ‘Who set the papers for the trainers’ exam’? Sridhar answered: ‘It was Basu, who set the question paper’,” a committee member told PTI on condition of anonymity.
Sridhar justified that there was no leniency followed in Desai’s appointment and everything happened as per the norms.
“The boy came second in the exam and that’s why he got the job. I don’t think there is any conflict of interest,” Sridhar said, when asked about Desai appointment.
Basu is currently in Chennai with the Indian team and couldn’t be reached for comments while Desai chose the diplomatic way and refrained from making any proper statement to clear the air.
“I will not be able to comment as I am contracted with the BCCI. Why don’t you ask Dr Sridhar?” Desai said.
Impressive growth pattern
CEO Rahul Johri said that he “will look into the matter.” Earlier, the Committee of Administrators (COA) had been very strict about the conflict of interest.
“The pattern is very interesting. The man who sets the question paper is the Team India trainer. And one of the candidates who topped the exam worked in his personal gym. Now, if this is not Conflict of Interest, then what is? Hopefully, COA will take note of this,” a senior BCCI office-bearer said.