BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has reportedly decided to step down as director of ATK Mohun Bagan to dodge the conflict-of-interest controversy, shortly after RPSG Ventures Ltd acquisition of the Lucknow IPL franchise with a record bid of INR 7,090 crore (USD 940 million approximately) on October 25.
It is learnt that the former India skipper is one of the directors of the Mohun Bagan board along with being the popular football club's shareholder. Ganguly had also stepped down from the role of mentor of the JSW group co-owned Delhi Capitals (DC) before taking up the role of BCCI president in 2019.
RPSG vice-chairman Sanjiv Goenka, who is also the principle owner of Mohun Bagan, told CNBC-TV 18 that Ganguly is going to relenquish his duties. "Well, I think he is going to step down from Mohun Bagan completely... I think today. It is for Sourav to make the announcement. I mean, sorry. I think I pre-empted it," Goenka said.
The conflict rule under the BCCI constitution lays stress on an individual's personal interest while getting into contractual agreements.
"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 associate has an interest. This is to include cases where family members, partners or close associates are in position that may, or may be seen to compromise as individual's participation, performance and discharge of roles," it states.
While the RPSG Ventures Ltd picked Lucknow as their base city on Monday, CVC Capitals Partners won the bid for the Ahmedabad franchise to make the IPL a ten-team tournament from the next edition.
Ganguly had also welcomed the two new teams while congratulating the two successful bidders. "The BCCI is happy to welcome two new teams from the next season of the Indian Premier League. I would like to congratulate RPSG Ventures Ltd. Irelia Company Pte Ltd for being the successful bidders," he had said in a BCCI release.
“The IPL is proving to be a wonderful instrument in globalising the game of cricket. I am keenly looking forward to IPL 2022," he had further said.
The IPL 2022 season will comprise ten teams and will have 74 matches, where each franchise will play seven home and as many away matches.
