IPL lure above any conflict of interest

Meanwhile, it is also being perceived that the IPL team owners have consented to relax certain conditions which they had put up earlier asking for these cricketers to promote the sponsors of the franchises. In fact, team owners are also believed to have said yes to CA’s condition that their players would not be asked to feature in commercials lest it comes in direct conflict with the Australian board’s sponsors.

Despite efforts to reach spokespersons from these franchises, it was still not clear late until Friday evening whether it was compensation on their part to CA’s sponsors or safeguarding CA’s interests by not asking Australian cricketers to fall under any conflict of commercial interest that helped the negotiations. Companies like the UB Group, who own the Bangalore team could be in direct conflict with CA should the former use their product—Kingfisher (beer)—in promoting their IPL team. This is primarily because Fosters happens to be one of CA’s main sponsors along with Travelex.

“I don’t think there might be a conflict of interest here. We may not use that particular brand to promote our team if it does give rise to any conflict,” Team Bangalore’s CEO-designate Charu Sharma said.

Therefore, now armed with a compromise, CA and IPL are ready to enter a phase within the coming 24 hours that will see the Aussie cricketers signing up for the league. However, it is not clear yet whether the NOC that the IPL had set in place as a rule for the players to procure from their respective boards, would still be valid.