For now, players don’t need to sign conflict undertaking

New Delhi, August 3

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 today.

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 associations.

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

"No players have been sent the undertaking yet. This has been mailed only to the presidents and the secretaries of the state associations. After that, it will be sent to various committee members," a member of the BCCI Working Group, set up to examine the Lodha Committee verdict, said on a condition of anonymity.

"Gradually, we will bring everyone under it 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.

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

“I have no problems in signing any document. But there needs to be a little more clarity on the subject. By the way, I am a commentator for 'Star', not the BCCI. I am not a contracted commentator with the BCCI. I have received the notification in the capacity of CAB secretary," he said.

Last month, in its bid to clean the image of the sport, the BCCI had 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 the BCCI, including interest or stake in IPL teams, sponsorships or looking after specific players' interests.