Conflict of interest matter: Rangaswamy bats for clarity

The former India women’s team captain resigned on Sunday from the Cricket Advisory Committee of the BCCI and as the director of the Indian Cricketers Association.

The notice was served based on charges levelled by Sanjeev Gupta, a life member of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, stating that Kapil Dev, Anshuman Gaekwad and Rangaswamy were in violation of the Lodha Committee’s recommendation of one person, one post.

Former India women’s team captain, Shantha Rangaswamy, who resigned on Sunday from the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and as the director of the Indian Cricketers Association (ICA), believes it’s important to have clarity on the conflict of interest clause.

Rangaswamy tendered her resignation early on Sunday, just hours after being served a conflict of interest notice by the BCCI’s ethics officer, Justice (Retired) D. K. Jain.

The notice was served based on charges levelled by Sanjeev Gupta, a life member of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, stating that Kapil Dev, Anshuman Gaekwad and Rangaswamy were in violation of the Lodha Committee’s recommendation of one person, one post.

READ : Conflict of Interest notices served to Kapil, Anshuman and Shantha

The Lodha Committee was constituted by the Supreme Court in 2015 to analyse and recommend improvements in the BCCI, which it did a year later.

“For a committee that meets once in two or three years, if that’s being treated as conflict of interest, then there’s no worth being in it. That’s the main reason behind resigning,” Rangaswamy told  Sportstar.

Rangaswamy had been named one of the directors of the ICA, along with Kapil Dev and Ajit Agarkarm but said she intended to resign before elections were held.

READ : Vinod Rai: 'TNCA has no option, but to modify its Constitution'

“I became a director of the ICA to register the constitution. I would have anyway quit before the elections were held. So, it was just a matter of time,” she said.

A few weeks ago, former India captain Sourav Ganguly had suggested that the BCCI’s rules should be “practical” and that there should be clarity with regard to the conflict of interest matter.

Rangaswamy backed the views of the former India captain. “I endorse Ganguly’s views. If it goes this way, where will they find eligible people? I hope there’s more clarity. There should be clear rules, so that we don’t miss key players who can contribute so much to the game,” she said.

On Thursday, former India captain Rahul Dravid deposed before the BCCI ethics officer in Mumbai after allegations of conflict of interest were levelled against him.