VVS under conflict of interest cloud, BCCI says no

Mumbai, June 30

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has claimed that former India batsman VVS Laxman was not involved in any conflict of interest while being on a committee that selected Anil Kumble as head coach of the Indian team.

Laxman is part of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) — which also includes Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly — which selected former captain Kumble as head coach.

Today it was revealed that Laxman is a shareholder in Kumble’s company, Tenvic Sports Education Private Ltd. In fact, it is claimed that as of today (June 30), Laxman is listed as a shareholder in Tenvic Sports, as per the records of the Registrar of Companies (ROC).

No shareholding?

However, a BCCI statement today said that Laxman had informed BCCI that he had sold his total shareholding of five per cent in Tenvic Sports in March, and also declared that he no longer held any shareholding or any official or unofficial position in the company.

“The BCCI would like to inform all concerned that at the time prior to the commencement of the functioning of the committee to interview applicants for the job of head coach of the Indian cricket team, VVS Laxman had very categorically clarified his current position as well his previous association with Tenvic Sports,” a BCCI statement released today said.

“It was during the course of the requisite communication, Laxman informed BCCI that he had sold his total shareholding of five per cent in Tenvic Sports in the month of March and also declared that he no longer held any shareholding or any official or unofficial position in Tenvic Sports. This took place prior to the commencement of the operations of this committee,” the statement added.

The BCCI did not release any e-mail or letter supporting this contention. Tenvic Sports also did not release any documents that show that it had informed ROC about Laxman exiting the company.

CAB conflict? 

It was recently reported that Laxman was in a conflict of interest situation with CAC member Sourav Ganguly too. According to reports, Laxman and Ganguly share an employer-employee relationship at the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Ganguly is the president of CAB and in July 2014, CAB appointed Laxman as a batting consultant for CAB’s Vision 20-20. According to reports, Laxman is paid Rs 60 lakh for working for 30 days a year for CAB. Apart from this, CAB pays him a daily allowance of Rs 5000 and also takes care of his boarding and lodging. — Agencies, TNS