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Amre in the dock for conflict of interest
MUMBAI: The ombudsman appointed by the BCCI has held former India batsman Pravin Amre guilty of conflict of interest. Former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar, against
MUMBAI: The ombudsman appointed by the BCCI has held former India batsman Pravin Amre guilty of conflict of interest. Former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar, against whom there were similar allegations, has been given a clean chit.
Nadim Memon, a former managing committee member of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), had appealed to the ombudsman, Justice AP Shah, to look into the alleged conflict of interest against Amre and Vengsarkar. Memon, in his letter to the ombudsman, had argued that Amre held a managing committee post in the MCA and was on the Delhi Daredevils’ coaching staff.
The ombudsman, in his ruling (a copy of which is with HT), said: “Rule 1(A)(B) of the BCCI rules on conflict of interest clearly stipulates that an administrator or his near relative shall not be on the payroll of an IPL franchise. An administrator has been defined to include members of the managing committee of the affiliated units of the BCCI. Mr Amre’s response that no one had pointed out the potential conflict of interest is untenable in light of the minutes of the managing committee meeting filed by the applicant.
“The ombudsman reiterates that no administrator (managing committee member) can be on the pay roll of an IPL franchise. Hence, the ombudsman is of the view that the application against Mr Pravin Amre has merit and this is a clear case of conflict of interest. Mr Amre should not have taken any position in the coaching staff of an IPL franchise, while being an administrator.
“For the next edition of the IPL, Mr Amre cannot continue to be a part of the MCA managing committee and Delhi Daredevils (or any other IPL team) coaching staff.”
The ombudsman directed the BCCI “to take appropriate action” against Amre in accordance with the relevant rules and also direct the IPL franchises to again clarify that they “cannot employ any administrator (as defined in the rules) as part of its support staff.”
In his letter to the ombudsman, Memon alleged that Vengsarkar, who is the MCA vice-president and runs private academies in Mumbai and Pune, is in potential conflict of interest after being appointed as director of the National Cricket Academy, although honorary.
The ombudsman disposed the appeal against Vengsarkar, stating: “Since Mr Vengsarkar is neither part of the selection process nor a coach, there is no conflict of interest in accordance with the BCCI rules of conflict of interest.”
