Gautam Gambhir’s DDCA govt nominee role under conflict-of-interest scanner

New Delhi, November 11

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

On Friday, Gambhir announced via Twitter that he had been nominated in the managing committee of DDCA and also thanked sports minister Rajyavardhan Rathore.

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

DDCA’s managing committee, as and when it comes into effect, will decide on coach and selection committee, which will then be directly beneficial to Gambhir if he remains an active cricketer.

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Interestingly, Delhi High Court appointed administrator of DDCA Justice Vikramajit Sen (retd) 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 details,” Justice Sen told PTI on Saturday.

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

It is also learnt that no such managing committee exists as of now in the DDCA since the time the court-appointed administrator took over. No one knows who all are part of the committee.

A close friend of Gambhir said if the conflict of interest issue arose then he would 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. PTI