Conflict of interest emerges in BCCI match referee nomination

Former Delhi leg-spinner Chetnya Nanda, attached to BCCI acting president C. K. Khanna’s office, has been recommended for the role of match referee by the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association.

BCCI admitted there was an oversight.

In a case of conflict of interest, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s acting president’s office has recommended one of its employees for the post of match referee.

Former Delhi leg-spinner Chetnya Nanda, attached to the acting president C. K. Khanna’s office, figures in the two-name list submitted by the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA).

A Board source confirmed that Nanda’s name is in the list which contains Feroze Ghayas as the second candidate. “There has been an oversight. Nanda can’t apply for the match referee’s post when he is employed by the BCCI,” said the source.

Nanda, who served the DDCA as a state under-19 leg-spinner and reportedly did a good job in the company of former India left-arm spinner Maninder Singh and Ashu Dani, had also been doubling up as a media assistance to Khanna. Ghayas was among the candidates who had applied for the post of selector for the forthcoming season but withdrew his name, obviously to back himself for the match referee’s assignment, a role he had performed in the past too.

According to the BCCI source, Nanda, with an aggregate of 31 first-class matches, can be eligible if he gives up his job in Khanna’s office. “We have not received any communication to that effect,” added the source.

Incidentally, former Delhi batsman Akash Malhotra, with an experience of 54 first-class matches, had stayed away from any state role (coach or selector) for the forthcoming season since he had applied for the Match Referee’s job. Malhotra, however, has not been given any reason for being excluded.