MS Dhoni should disassociate himself from sports management firm: BCCI treasurer Ravi Sawant

The new treasurer of the Indian cricket board or BCCI, Ravi Sawant, has said that as Captain of the Indian cricket team, Mahendra Singh Dhoni cannot continue to hold shares in sports management firm Rhiti.

Talking to NDTV, Mr Sawant, who was appointed just yesterday, said, "Dhoni should immediately disassociate himself from the management firm while he is captain." He also suggested that the Indian Skipper be "given a notice for conflict of interest if this was not part of his contract earlier."

Rhiti's chairman and managing director, Arun Pandey, has been quoted by India Abroad News Service as saying, "As on date, MSD has no shares in Rhiti Sports Management. However, some shares were allotted to MSD on March 22 only to secure certain old outstandings that were due for more than a year."

The Indian cricket team is in England playing in the Champions Trophy tournament and Dhoni has refused to talk about the controversy over his alleged association with the firm back home. He has only said that he is focused on the game and is under no pressure.

India Abroad News Service had also reported on Monday that the BCCI's interim president Jagmohan Dalmiya has promised to look into the Dhoni matter after the team returns from England. "I don't want to disturb the team during the Champions Trophy. I gain nothing by doing that. We have taken a note of the (Dhoni) issue, we are looking into it but we are not going to hound someone," Mr Dalmiya was quoted as having said at an emergency meeting of the board held yesterday primarily to discuss the betting and spot-fixing scandal that has rocked Indian cricket.

Mr Sawant was appointed BCCI treasurer at that working committee meeting.