BCCI set to introduce Player Agent Accreditation System

In its continuing efforts to clean up the game, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on 2 August revealed that it will put in place a Player Agent Accreditation System to ensure that those handling the cricketers' commercial interests are bound by a code of conduct.

"In order to make the structure thorough enough and to ensure that player agents are bound by the set of laws and the code of conduct, a thorough and extensive Player Agent Accreditation System would be in place soon," BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya said.

"Discussions and consultations involving all stakeholders would be held shortly in order to achieve a high degree of acceptance and to propose a new system that is transparent and easier to administer," added Board Secretary Anurag Thakur.

The BCCI has already initiated the process of preparing a comprehensive Code of Ethics in addition to already asked for "Conflict of Interest" Declarations.

"BCCI is concerned and determined to safeguard its integrity. The Code of Ethics when formed would define important core values for behaviour and conduct within the BCCI. It would be a good way of ensuring that administrators and officials refrain from anything that could be harmful to BCCI?s aims and objectives," Dalmiya said.

"The code would describe the minimum requirements for conduct and behavioural expectations. To ensure transparency, BCCI would get the draft ethics code vetted and finalised by an eminent senior lawyer with impeccable credibility and reputation," asserted Thakur.

Further details regarding the Code of Ethics and Agent Agreement will be discussed in the next working committee meeting of the BCCI.

The BCCI had earlier notified all the Board members to sign an undertaking declaring that they do not have 'conflict of interest' while holding functionary posts in their respective cricket associations.

The 'no conflict of interest' clause would include no direct business links with any cricketing affairs in BCCI including interest or stake in IPL teams, sponsorships or looking after specific players' interests.

-PTI