Conflict of interest issue could see Rahul Dravid heading for IPL exit doors

What’s the story?

Rahul Dravid might be forced to choose between the IPL and India with the BCCI raising objections to the former Indian cricketer’s dual responsibilities as a mentor of IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils and the coach of the Indian Under-19 and India A side under the conflict of issue purview.

“The BCCI doesn’t want another conflict of interest issue raised now. We will pay him what he (Dravid) is getting in the IPL. By having 12 months of his services, we can add responsibilities, maybe at the NCA where zonal camps happen during the IPL,” the Indian Express reported quoting BCCI sources.

In case you didn’t know...

Ever since the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha committee came out with their recommendations to clean up the state of affairs in Indian cricket, the conflict of interest matter has been one which has created many headlines with many current and former players, as well as administrators, feeling the heat.

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While the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh and Venkatesh Prasad among others had to deal with the conflict of interest issue, the most publicised ones included those involving the current Indian skipper Virat Kohli and his predecessor MS Dhoni.

The heart of the matter

The four-member Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), headed by former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Vinod Rai, which is currently looking after the affairs of the BCCI, is understood to be in no mood to compromise on the subject of the conflict of interest clause and if they have their way, Dravid could well have to skip IPL duties from next season.

The BCCI, in fact, is set to come up with a 12-month contract for its coaches, support staff and physiotherapists, which means that apart from Dravid, the likes of India’s fielding coach R Sridhar, physiotherapist, Patrick Farhart, and chief physio at the National Cricket Academy, Andrew Leipus, who worked with Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians respectively during the 2016 edition, could be prevented from continuing their association from next season.

What’s next?

With the BCCI making it clear that they plan to implement the annual contracts for the team’s support staff at various levels only from next season, the likes of Dravid and co. can breathe a sigh of relief with the tenth edition of the IPL less than two weeks away.

However, having their salaries hiked only a day earlier, Sanjay Bangar and R Sridhar will be scratching their heads having seen their joy washed away so soon.

Extra Cover: Sanjay Bangar and R Sridhar to receive a 50 percent hike in their salary

Author’s Take

While the CoA’s intentions may be in the best interests of Indian cricket, one can only presume that preventing someone like Rahul Dravid engaging with youngsters in any capacity will do more harm than good.

Despite its flaws, the IPL has given a platform for so many domestic cricketers to play alongside the best in the business and working under the guidance of someone like Dravid in a real match environment will be more crucial in their development than doing so in the nets.