Players need not sign ‘Conflict of Interest’ undertaking as of now: BCCI sources

A source in the BCCI told PTI that there was no such move to immediately ask the current and former players to make this declaration.

Current and former Indian cricketers will not be immediately required to sign ‘Conflict of Interest’ undertakings but they may have to do so in future, a top BCCI source said on Monday.

There was speculation that current and former players will also be asked to sign the undertakings, just like the BCCI members who have been asked to declare that they do not have ‘conflict of interest’ while holding functionary posts in their respective cricket associations.

But, a source in the BCCI told PTI that there was no such move to immediately ask the current and former players to make this declaration.

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“No players have yet been sent any ‘No Conflict of Interest’ undertaking yet. This is right now only mailed for presidents and secretaries of the state associations. After that it will be for the various committee,” a member of the BCCI Working Group set up to examine the Lodha Committee verdict said on condition of anonymity.

“Gradually we will bring everyone but that’s a long way to go. As of now, no player or ex player has been sent any document. It is still some time before players are bought in the ambit,” he added, without giving any time frame as to when the players could be asked to sign the undertaking.

Former India captain and a member of the Working Group, Sourav Ganguly said that he has no problems in signing any undertaking and he made it clear that he has no contract with the BCCI.

“I have no problems in signing any document. But you guys need a to get a bit more clarity on the subject. By the way, I am a commentator for ‘Star’, not BCCI. Different things. I am not a contracted commentator of BCCI. I have received the notification in capacity of CAB Secretary,” he said.

Last month, in its bid to clean the image of the sport, the BCCI has notified all the Board members to sign an undertaking declaring that they do not have ‘conflict of interest’ while holding functionary posts in their respective cricket associations.

The ‘no conflict of interest’ clause would include no direct business links with any cricketing affairs in BCCI including interest or stake in IPL teams, sponsorships or looking after specific players’ interests.