Sourav Ganguly: Conflict of interest a serious issue in Indian cricket, needs to be sorted

Sourav Ganguly has left his role as mentor with Delhi Capitals, while he will resign as the CAB president, too, once he takes over as BCCI president.

Sourav Ganguly arrives at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai to file his nomination for the post of BCCI president.

In the recent past, conflict of interest has been a major area of concern for Indian cricket. With some of the top cricketers falling under the conflict of interest ambit, former India captain, Sourav Ganguly -- who filed his nomination on Monday for BCCI President’s position -- agreed that it is a major issue now.

Conflict of interest allegations were levelled against the 47-year-old as well for his dual role as the president of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and mentor of IPL franchise Delhi Capitals.

However, before taking a fresh guard as the head of the Board, Ganguly has already left Delhi Capitals’ mentor role, while he will give up the CAB president role once he takes charge on October 23.

“Conflict is an issue whether you will actually get the best cricketers in the system. You are not too sure as they will have other options and because if they come into this system and not get to do something which is their livelihood, then it gets difficult to be part of the system. It needs to be looked into,” Ganguly said, making his views clear on the ‘one person, one position’ policy.

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The former India captain was a part of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which was dissolved after Ethics Officer D.K. jain received multiple complaints.

“If you look at all the appointments that have happened in various forms — whether it is the NCA or CAC or the appointment of batting, fielding coaches, there has been issue with everything. Then come to commentators or IPL. This needs to be sorted as it is another very serious issue in Indian cricket.”

Over the last few years, India’s revenue share has been curtailed by the ICC after the ‘Big Three’ -- India, England and Australia getting bulk of revenue -- concept was done away with.

And Ganguly admitted that’s one area, the Board needs to take care of. “We will have to take care of it because in the last 3-4 years, we have not received the kind of money that we deserve,” he said.

“India generates 75-80 per cent of the global cricket revenue, so that is going to be one of the big agendas. Talks and discussions need to happen and we need to find a solution as it is not leading anywhere,” a rather concerned Ganguly said.