BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya issued a clarification regarding the stand of the Indian board on the issue of captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s alleged conflict of interest in relation to a sports management company.
The Hindustan Times reported on Saturday said that the BCCI was looking into Dhoni’s association with Rhiti Sports Management
Private Limited, the company which manages Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja among other cricketers. The company also handles marketing activities for IPL team Chennai Super Kings.
– FEATURE: BCCI needs to accept troubled history
– #QUIZ360: WIN a gym membership at FitRepublik
– FOLLOW: Live cricket with our new match centre
The report stated that Dhoni’s alleged conflict of interest was being probed by a three-member disciplinary committee comprising Dalmiya, KP Kajaria and Jyotiraditya Scindia.
However, Dalmiya said that the comments attributed to him were misplaced and that the BCCI was simply seeking a clarification from all players regarding their business associations and was not specifically targeting Dhoni.
“It appears that I have been misquoted as far as Mr. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is concerned,” Dalmiya said in a BCCI release.
“When I was asked about Mr Dhoni’s involvement with M/s Rhiti Sports, I said I intend to implement the decision of the BCCI obtained in 2013… that all players would have to submit declarations on their involvement/interest in any sports management companies, if any.”
The controversy started two years ago when it emerged Dhoni held 15 per cent shares in Rhiti Sports Management, a company owned by his friend Arun Pandey. Pandey later came out with a statement saying that Dhoni held the shares only for a brief period.
Meanwhile, Dalmiya clarified that the board is yet to take a final decision on the quantum of punishment to be handed to disgraced Rajasthan Royals bowler Ajit Chandila, who was caught in the net during the IPL spot fixing scandal.
While fellow culprits S Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan have been handed life bans, Chandila is only suspended with the board yet to act on the recommendations of the board’s anti-corruption unit.