JUNE 3- Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s continued silence on spot-fixing and betting scandal in Indian Premier League (IPL) intrigued many to question is loyalty to the game.
However, a curious conflict of interest has emerged between Dhoni’s business role and his cricketing responsibilities reasoning his mum on the issue.
According to reports, as many as four regular players in the ODI circuit are managed by a sports firm where Dhoni reportedly has a 15 per cent stake. This puts the Indian skipper in a conflicting position as he has a share in the profits of the firm even as he opines or votes for these players as Indian captain.
As per reports, Dhoni owns a 15 per cent stake in the marketing firm Rhiti Sports Management, set up by his close friend and business associate Arun Pandey. The same firm also manages four other players – Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Pragyan Ojya and R.P. Singh.
Raina and Jadeja are also regulars in IPL team Chennai Super Kings (CSK), where Dhoni has been skipper since its inception, raising another conflict of interest.
Dhoni already has a known conflict between his role as CSK captain and vice-president of India Cements, which owns the IPL franchise.
The latest revelation has sparked off questions if it is right for Dhoni to have a business link with four players and decide their selection. Also, are business ties the reason behind Dhoni’s silence on the betting scandal?
