Conflict charge on captain Kohli

New Delhi, July 6: Third parties with “vested interest” are trying to malign India captain Virat Kohli’s image with conflict of interest allegations based on conjectures, CEO of talent management firm Cornerstone Bunty Sajdeh said on Monday, defending his client.

Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association life member Sanjeev Gupta has alleged that Kohli is conflicted as he occupies two posts — captain of the Indian team and director of a venture which has co-directors linked to Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment Private Limited that has on board, several of his teammates. BCCI Ombudsman D. K. Jain has said he “will examine” the complaint by Gupta, who has levelled similar charges against other players in the past which were deemed “infructuous”.

“This is with reference to the recent conflict of interest speculations surrounding Virat and Cornerstone. It is unfortunate to repeatedly see Virat’s name being dragged into absurd allegations every now and then,” Sajdeh said in a statement.

Sajdeh said allegation of conflict is nothing but conjecture. “Such speculations are based entirely on conjecture,

BCCI Ombudsman D. K. Jain will examine a complaint by Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association life member Sanjeev Gupta, who has alleged that Kohli is conflicted as he occupies two posts — captain of the Indian team and director of a venture which has co-directors linked to Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment Private Limited that has on board, several of his teammates.

nothing more. Virat is a contracted, exclusive client of Cornerstone exactly like the rest of our esteemed talent roster,” he asserted.

Kohli does not have a role in Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment Private Limited. He is, however, a director at Cornerstone Venture Partners LLP and Virat Kohli Sports LLP along with Sajdeh.

Gupta had also filed similar complaints against Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, which were deemed “infructuous” by Jain.

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