The BCCI has said that insinuations that Sourav Ganguly batted slowly in the World Cup because of a clause in his endorsement contract linking payment to time spent at the crease, were "baseless".
Unsourced reports in the media appeared to have got official legitimacy on Friday after BCCI boss Sharad Pawar mentioned "the contract" in an interview to CNN-IBN.
On Sunday, BCCI official Rajiv Shukla issued a statement saying: "(It) has (been) reported that the BCCI president was hinting at Sourav Ganguly and his contract with Puma… Mr Pawar did not take any name, neither did he want to cast aspersion on any individual. He only referred to an allegation and emphasised a need to find the truth... I went through all (Ganguly’s) contracts and am of the view that no such clause exists... Reports accusing him are baseless and unfounded."
Ganguly told Hindustan Times: "I did contact Mr Pawar... I was very unhappy with these ridiculous allegations. I’m thankful to him for clearing up this matter."