Former Sri Lanka allrounder Farveez Maharoof on Friday made his debut as TV commentator during the first ODI of a three match series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at iconic R. Premadasa Stadium.
Maharoof, who is already in the junior selection committee as one of the selector, was recently appointed as Sri Lanka Under-19 team manager as well. And as if it not enough, he provided his expertise, analysis for a media group before and after national team’s matches during the recently concluded World Cup in England and Wales. During the mega event, for a local media house, Maharoof was giving his expertise on a show named Around the Wickets.
On April 6, Cricket Age had exposed that apart from drawing salary from SLC for two jobs, Maharoof is also still actively involved in his media commitments as well, doing pre match analysis and commentary for a certain media house.
After Cricket Age expose, Maharoof had written a letter to SLC, in which he has requested to give him permission to continue his media commitments.
Cricket Age has the access of the SLC management committee document, that says that Maharoof has informed the board that he is a freelance cricket commentator and expert at a media house and request to permit him to continue his association with the media house in order to share his cricketing knowledge and gaining experience as a commentator.
According to sources, even after his platter is full of commercial commitments, Maharoof shamelessly asked SLC for commentary as well.
However, SLC sternly warned him for continuesly mixing his priorities and denied him giving permission for commentary.
“Yes. Maharoof again requested board for commentary. However, as we felt it’s not ethical, we rejected his request during the last management committee meeting” a senior SLC administrator told Cricket Age.
However, Maharoof is still doing commentary in ongoing ODI series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, only because of a previous approval.
“In December 2018, he had requested board for giving him permission for commentary. At that time board CEO Ashley De Silva had approved it and had written a letter to Ten Sports to consider him for commentary. However, during last management committee, we reverted it and have clearly told Maharoof that after Bangladesh series, he can’t continue with commentary” the senior SLC administrator added further.
Cricket Age has the access of Maharoof appointment as well, and according to this he is drawing a salary of one Lakh excluding allowances (transport allowance 50,000 LKR and mobile allowance 5000 LKR).
It is noteworthy that in last few months, Maharoof has become one of the most influential past cricketer at SLC (largely due to his high level connections outside SLC). Two appointments and drawing two salaries from one organisation is itself a conflict of interest and as if it not enough, now he has debuted at a commentator as well.
