BCCI president Sourav Ganguly will step down as director of ISL club ATK Mohun Bagan to avoid conflict arising from the recent purchase of a new IPL franchise by RPSG, which also owns the football club.
According to ESPNCricinfo, Ganguly has initiated the process of stepping down from his role at ATK Mohun Bagan, and will not hold any role at the club as long as he is president of the BCCI.
Ganguly is a director and a minority shareholder on the club's board.
On Monday, businessman Sanjiv Goenka's RPSG Ventures won the rights to own a new Lucknow franchise in the next edition of the Indian Premier League, bidding Rs 7,090 for the team.
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The same day, Goenka, who is chairman of the ISL club, told a news channel that Ganguly was on the verge of stepping down from Mohun Bagan after the issue was raised by many.
The BCCI rule states: “When the BCCI, a Member, the IPL or a Franchisee enter into contractual arrangements with entities in which the individual concerned or his/her relative, partner or close associate has an interest. This is to include cases where family members, partners or close associates are in position that may, or may be seen to compromise as individual's participation, performance and discharge of roles.”
The former national team captain is expected to announce his decision soon.
Though Ganguly will no longer hold the post, there will still be questions asked of his involvement in the auction process, considering his prior association with the Goenka-led group.
Ganguly has faced questions over conflict of interest before too, ever since his rise to the presidency of the cricket board.
His role as brand ambassador or JSW Cement came under question last as the conglomerate JSW Group jointly owns IPL team Delhi Capitals.
It was the same with his association with My11 Circle fantasy gaming app, as another fantasy platform was a sponsor for the BCCI. But Ganguly has dismissed it, saying that it was not a conflict of interest.