When the Board of Control for Cricket in India included Sunil Gavaskar’s name in the list of people with conflict of interest to the Supreme Court, he had no option but to clarify his stand in this complex matter. The former India captain has said he was not aware in what context his name is being dragged by the BCCI as he is not in any way connected with the cricket board.
The root cause of this issue is controversial 6.2.4 clause that allowed BCCI officials to wear multiple hats and have commercial interest in IPL and CL T20 had drawn the ire of the Supreme Court. Clarifying his position, Gavaskar said he had never stood for elections in the BCCI and the only roles he held were handed to him by the board. He was appointed interim BCCI president (IPL affairs) by the Supreme Court earlier this year. e said “Mine was an appointed position even in the IPL Governing Council. I didn’t have to fight an election. I was appointed by the BCCI. For my commentary duties, I have been appointed by the BCCI’s in-house production company, like a lot of other technical guys and cameramen.”
Gavaskar was one of several high profile cricketers named by the BCCI with possible conflict of interest in the Indian Premier League and Champions League Twenty20, though it is not clear that how his name is being dragged in as he is denying having any administrative role. Gavaskar is one of the highly regarded sports persons and had never been involved in any controversial issue. Gavaskar said he was not aware of developments in the apex court as he was busy with commentary duties in the second Test between Australia and India.
“I am not aware of the argument. Neither am I aware of the context (in which his name has been included). But I am not in any away connected with BCCI. My last association with them was when I had been appointed chairman of the technical committee back in 2008 or 2009. Currently, I have no administrative position with the BCCI.” clarified Gavaskar.
Now as a matter of principle, it has become the moral duty of the BCCI to clarify the basis on which Sunil Gavaskar’s name was included in the list of people with the conflict of interest.