Gambhir’s DDCA Appointment Under Conflict of Interest Scanner

Delhi High Court appointed administrator of DDCA said he was unaware of the existence of any managing committee.

Gautam Gambhir was included as a government nominee in the Delhi & District Cricket Association’s Managing Committee.

(Photo: Reuters)

Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir’s inclusion as a government nominee in the Delhi & District Cricket Association's (DDCA) Managing Committee came under the scanner due to conflict of interest issue.

Gambhir on 10 November announced via Twitter that he has been nominated in the managing committee of DDCA, and also thanked sports minister Rajyavardhan Rathore.

However, since Gambhir is an active first-class cricketer, he will fall under the conflict of interest purview, as per the Lodha Committee recommendations, if he is a part of the policy making body before retiring from the game.

No such managing committee has been in effect since Delhi High Court appointed an administrator for DDCA. However, as and when it was established, the committee was to decide the coach and the selectors, which would be directly beneficial to Gambhir if he continued to play first-class cricket.

In fact, Delhi High Court appointed administrator of DDCA, Justice (Retd) Vikramajit Sen said he was unaware of the existence of any managing committee in the current set-up.

I have not received any notification from the government about Gautam Gambhir’s appointment. I am not aware about any managing committee. I will be writing to the sports ministry to seek more details.

Justice Sen to PTI

"Also, he is an active cricketer, so I am not sure if Lodha Committee reforms will allow him to take up administrative post," he said.

A person know to be a close friend of Gambhir said that if the conflict of interest issue arises, then he will not take up the post.

"Gautam has no plans to retire and will be playing active cricket. If there is a conflict of interest issue, he will not take up the post," he said.

36-year-old Gambhir has played 58 Tests, 147 ODIs and 37 Twenty20 Internationals. He has been the top scorer in finals of two World Cups (2007 T20 and 2011 50-over) that India won.

(With inputs from PTI.)

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