Conflict of interest eliminates Sandeep Patil’s candidature for MCA polls

Patil would have been a hands-down winner and probably would have taken his group through as well.

Sandeep Patil. (File Photo)

The nub of the matter in the Lodha cricket reforms, conflict of interest, took a big victim here with a few days leading to the election of the Mumbai Cricket Association; under a new constitution, slated for October 4.

The victim was the 1981 Adelaide hero and 1983 World Cup star, Sandeep Patil. He was the most ideal candidate to helm the association as its president; Patil has been a player, captain, coach of a number of teams, including Kenya, director of NCA, Chairman of selectors, mentor and a group that has been running the affairs of the MCA for a long time, considered Patil for the President’s post.

Conflict of interest

But after getting the opinion of BCCI officials, and the electoral officer, Patil was ruled out because of the BCCI’s one man, one post rule. The conflict in this case; as an apex council member of the MCA, he could not be engaged as a television commentator with a BCCI broadcaster.

Explaining his position to Sportstar , Patil said: "I wanted to be part of MCA and help it. But I have a contract with Star Sports Marathi commentary. It’s unfortunate. The conflict rule came in.”

Patil would have been a hands-down winner and probably would have taken his group through as well.