Former India captain and the president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Sourav Ganguly has denied any conflict of interest issue over his role as the brand ambassador of JSW Cement (Jindal Steel Works). Ganguly on Saturday posted a picture on Instagram where he was seen wearing a JSW t-shirt. “At work,” the BCCI president captioned the picture.
The post raised eyebrows on social media as JSW Sports, the sports arm of the business conglomerate JSW Group co-owns the Delhi Capitals franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the GMR Group. Ganguly had even served as the mentor of the Delhi Capitals side last season and helped them qualify for the playoffs after seven years. However, he had stepped down from the post before taking over as BCCI president.
Nonetheless, Ganguly remains associated with JSW Cement as a brand ambassador of the company. On being asked about the potential issue of ‘conflict of interest’ in his association, Ganguly clarified that he is not with JSW Sports and has no say in cricketing matters of Delhi Capitals.
“How do I influence? I am not brand ambassador of JSW Sports (which handles Delhi Capitals in IPL). I don’t think the cement company is a sponsor of the (Delhi Capitals) team. I don’t see any conflict in it. I am not associated with their cricket; had I been, it would have been a conflict,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by The Sunday Express.
Ganguly had also relinquished the post of the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) before taking over as BCCI president to avoid any conflict of interest issue. Ganguly has in the past raised questions on the conflict-of-interest issue in Indian cricket and said it was something which needs to be sorted.
“When the BCCI, a Member, the IPL or a Franchisee enter into contractual arrangements with entities in which the individual concerned or his/her relative, partner, or close associates has an interest. This is to include cases where family members, partners or close associates are in positions that may, or may be seen to compromise an individual’s participation, performance and discharge of roles,” states the BCCI constitution on conflict of interest issues.
