Questions are being raised over Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly’s association with the JSW Cement. It is being alleged that the Board president is in conflict of interest as he is seen endorsing the company. Ganguly along with the Indian football captain Sunil Chettri recently signed with JSW Cement to promote their products. But now his role as brand endorser for the company whose promoters owns a IPL team is being questioned over conflict of interest issue.
The promoters of JSW Cement have a direct link with Delhi Capitals, the IPL Franchise. JSW Cement’s Managing Director Parth Jindal is also the director of JSW Sports the part owners of the IPL team Delhi Capitals. However, in an interview with the Indian Express, Ganguly dismissed any ‘conflict of interest’ issue in their association.
Speaking to The Sunday Express, Ganguly, who has been mentor of Delhi Capitals in the past, insisted his new role as brand ambassador of JSW Cement didn’t overlap with his duties as BCCI president. “How do I influence? I am not brand ambassador of JSW Sports (which handles Delhi Capitals in IPL). I don’t think the cement company is a sponsor of the (Delhi Capitals) team. I don’t see any conflict in it. I am not associated with their cricket; had I been, it would have been a conflict,” Ganguly said.
The BCCI Constitution defines ‘Conflict of Interest’ as follows, “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 associates has an interest. This is to include cases where family members, partners or close associates are in positions that may, or may be seen to compromise an individual’s participation, performance and discharge of roles.”
It would appear that Ganguly’s role as brand ambassador of JSW Cement clearly qualifies as a ‘Conflict of Interest’. This is not the first time that he has been questioned over his professional brand engagements. Ganguly’s association with My11Circle also came into question.
Can the BCCI president promote the brand that directly competes with a BCCI sponsor? Wouldn’t that amount to a conflict of interest? If the answer is yes, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly is continuously being seen endorsing fantasy cricket brand My11Circle, which is in direct competition with the BCCI sponsor and India’s leading sports fantasy platform Dream11.
John Stephenson
john@cricketinvestor.co.uk
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