Monday, Aug 12, 2002
Monday, Aug 12, 2002 |
| Sport | ||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Sport
-
Cricket
By Our Special Correspondent
The ICC has through a polite reminder late last week has told the BCCI that India is one of the three countries that has not signed its `Participating Nations Agreement' (PNA) for the Champions Trophy that will be played at Colombo from September 12. The ICC has said: "Seven out of the 10 full members have signed their PNA for the Champions Trophy. It is important to note that all full member boards have signed the PNA for the 2003 World Cup. The ICC has further told the BCCI that majority of the cricket Boards have committed through the PNA to provide their `best team for the Champions Trophy and that it is the responsibility of each Board to secure the agreement of its players and that it is not the role of the ICC.
Sensitive problem
Time may not be right now for the BCCI to talk to the senior players because they are involved in a Test match here. It is possible that a players' meeting may be convened to sort out the sensitive problem. What one does not anticipate is the BCCI asking the selection committee to announce a fresh team should a handful of players do not agree to sign the contract. The contract, once signed by the 160-odd players and officials — each team is allowed to name fourteen players plus officials for the Champions Trophy — will prohibit them from taking part in commercial activities, namely advertising, from August 12 till October end, with products that directly oppose the products of the sponsors of which IDI has signed a $550 for seven years and up to the 2007 World Cup. An ICC clause says that `the squad member shall not (from 30 days of before the first match until 30 days after the last match of the event, ICC champions Trophy) directly or indirectly allow his name, voice, image, likeness or other representation to be used either in any advertising or endorsement or for any commercial purpose in any media whatsoever by or on behalf of the competitor without the prior permission of the IDI. Two years ago, the ICC finalised a first-time agreement with Global Cricket Corporation (GCC), that gave the latter, exclusive rights to buy the commercial rights for the ICC events, the premier shows being the renamed Champions Trophy and the World Cups in South Africa (2002) and West Indies (2007). The agreement involved a guaranteed income of $ 550 million, out of which the ICC had earmarked a sum of $ 80 million for the respective boards and the players through participation and prize money. The BCCI is likely to get an amount close to Rs. 100 crores from the 2003 World Cup itself. The ICC has also noted that the IDI/GCC contract will benefit the Boards and the players. The IDI/GCC partnership for the Champions Trophy brought in big sponsors of cricket like Pepsi, LG, South African Airways and Hero Honda. For the 2003 World Cup, the big sponsors involved, apart from the above four are Standard Bank, Toyota, South African Breweries and MTN (Mobile Telephone Services). It was mandatory upon the ICC to protect the commercial interests of its sponsors and hence has told the respective boards that their team sponsor `may in no way conflict with the IDI/GCC sponsor and sponsor categories'. This clause will affect quite a few Indian players, but immediately and notably like Sachin Tendulkar being featured in TVS Victor and Virender Sehwag featured with Sunil Gavaskar in a Coca Cola audio-visual. India's captain will remain unaffected because he endorses products of Pepsi and Hero Honda. The ICC has said that the contract will not prevent players from writing in media, which an athlete is barred from during the Olympics. It has also allayed fears that the ICC has sold the intellectual property of the players.
`Too many restrictions'
According to the ICC some players expressed concerns stating there is too many restrictions. They have even sought permission to meet commitments with personal endorsements with companies that are in conflict with the ICC sponsors during the tournament. Former South Africa wicketkeeper, Dave Richardson, who is employed with the ICC has led the discussion with players. It is possible that the ICC may be able to make some concessions in regard to use of players images and identities by sponsors and broadcasters. But apparently the GCC has said that any changes would be unacceptable to it, which the ICC has said that the GCC is only exercising its rights. The ICC has also told the Board that it will not be able to modify the anti-ambush marketing restrictions that protect the commercial partners of these events and that there can be no watering down of the protections provided to the ICC's commercial partners. With just a day left to meet the August 12 deadline, the BCCI functionaries are bound to be on hotline and convince the players and get their signatures on the dotted line. Once the likes of Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Tendulkar, and Anil Kumble do it, the others will follow suit. The contract will have to be signed also by the officials who accompany the team to Colombo.
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | Home |
Copyright © 2002, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
