Rejecting Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) observation that his conflict of interest falls under “tractable” category, Sachin Tendulkar has taken on BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and Committee of Administrators (COA) chief Vinod Rai over the issue. 

The legendary India cricketer has taken offence to Johri’s letter — in consultation with COA — to BCCI Ethics Officer DK Jain, where it places Tendulkar’s issue as a case of “tractable Conflict of Interest”.

Tendulkar has been accussed of conflict of interest due to his dual role of being a member of BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) as well as the icon of IPL franchise Mumbai Indians. 

Seeking a personal hearing on the matter, Tendulkar — in his 13-point response to BCCI Ethics Officer Justice DK Jain — has also requested him to call Rai and Johri to “clarify their position” on the matter.

“Without prejudice to the aforesaid, the Noticee submits that it is surprising that the BCCI, being the very authority responsible for the Noticee’s empanelment to the Cricket Advisory Committee (“CAC”), is presently taking a position that the Noticee is exposed to an alleged conflict of interest. It is reiterated that, the Noticee was declared as the Mumbai Indians ‘ICON’ post his retirement in 2013, which was much prior to his appointment to the CAC in 2015,” Tendulkar stated in his response.

Just like his CAC colleague VVS Laxman, Tendulkar also reiterated that neither the Johri nor the COA has ever clarified the terms of reference with regards to his appointment in CAC.

“The Noticee (Tendulkar) has time and again sought clarification from the BCCI on the scope of his role in the CAC — but has not received a response from BCCI till date. BCCI is aware that the CAC merely performs an advisory/recommendatory role — and therefore, the Noticee’s role as a Mumbai Indians Icon (which in fact has always been in the public domain) cannot, in any practical way, conflict with his involvement in the CAC.

What has also irked Tendulkar is BCCI’s contradictory stand on the issue

“The Noticee fails to understand how the BCCI (after having appointed him to the CAC) can now maintain its current stand that he is in a position of ‘tractable’ conflict of interest. The BCCI Response does not clarify this variance in its stance and the Noticee requests the Hon’ble Ethics Officer to call upon BCCI Officials, Mr. Rahul Johri and Mr. Vinod Rai to clarify this position.”

What has also hurt Tendulkar is that questions are being raised against him despite serving Indian cricket for over 20 years.

“The Noticee has served the Indian cricket team for more than 2 decades and accepted empanelment with the CAC to help and contribute towards the growth of Indian cricket. It is unfortunate that the Noticee has to clarify the questions raised in the Complaint and BCCI Response.

“... The BCCI shall be called upon to clarify the issue,” the Indian cricket icon added.

‘RECUSED MYSELF BECAUSE OF ARJUN’

Sachin Tendulkar has also pointed out how he had recused himself from recruitment process of the national U-19 selection committee as his son Arjun was a contender in the colts team. “It is critical to note that the Noticee had specifically written to the BCCI in respect of the potential conflict of interest that could have arisen in the aforesaid scenario,” Tendulkar wrote in his letter.

—with PTI inputs