New Delhi: Sachin Tendulkar has categorically refuted all allegations of ‘Conflict of Interest’ levelled against him as he claimed to have neither ‘received any compensation’ nor holding any decision-making role in the IPL franchise Mumbai Indians.
Tendulkar filed a 14-point written response Sunday to a notice sent by Ombudsman cum Ethics Officer Justice (Retd) DK Jain. It was with regards to a Conflict of Interest complaint filed by the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) member Sanjeev Gupta.
As per the complainant, Tendulkar and Laxman are allegedly performing dual roles, first of a ‘support staff’ in their respective IPL franchises Mumbai Indians (MI) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and second as members of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC).
“At the outset, the Noticee (Tendulkar) denies the contents of the complaint in totality (except the statements specifically admitted herein). No part of the complaint should be deemed to be admitted by the Noticee for lack of specific denials,” Tendulkar wrote in his response which is in possession of this agency.
As Gupta’s complaints harped specifically on Tendulkar’s role in MI the iconic cricketer in his response have made a full disclosure of his role.
“The Noticee (Tendulkar) has received no pecuniary benefit/compensation from the Mumbai Indians IPL franchise in his capacity as the Mumbai Indians ‘ICON’ since his retirement, and is certainly not employed with the franchise in any capacity.
“He does not occupy any position, nor has he taken any decision (including selection of team players) which could qualify as being in governance or management of the franchise. Accordingly, there is no conflict of interest, either under the BCCI Rules or otherwise,” the world’s leading run-getter further explained.
As far as his role in the CAC is concerned, Tendulkar mentioned that he was appointed as a member of the BCCI committee in 2015, which was only after his involvement with the MI.
“The Noticee was appointed to the panel of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) in the year 2015. The Hon’ble Ethics Officer will appreciate that the Noticee was named as the ‘ICON’ for Mumbai Indians much prior to his empanelment with the CAC – which fact has always been in the public domain. Accordingly, the BCCI is aware of the Noticee’s association with the Mumbai Indians franchise at the time of his appointment to the CAC,” Tendulkar further stated.
“The Complaint wrongly assumes that the Noticee’s association with the Mumbai Indians IPL Franchise is in the capacity of ‘governance’, ‘management’ or ‘employment’ – thereby attracting a conflict under Rule 38 (4). His role is limited to providing guidance to the franchise team by sharing his insights, learnings and working closely with the younger members in the team to help them realise their true potential,” the former India captain added.
Also, in case of the Ombudsman willing to ‘continue proceedings’, Tendulkar has requested for a ‘personal hearing along with his legal representatives’.
