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An amicable settlement is the need of the hour

The face-off between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the players could well have been avoided had cricket's governing body been more considerate. Instead, thanks to ICC's adamant ways, we have an ugly situation before us.

I am totally with the cricketers here. They have every right to protect their interests. Many of the players already have one or more endorsements, and what the ICC is telling them now is to violate these existing contracts, which is, both, morally and ethically wrong.

I can understand if the ICC insists on players sporting a particular logo during the playing time in a tournament, but anything beyond that is a gross violation of the cricketers' rights. To stop them from endorsing other products in the print and electronic media is simply insane.

The ICC now tells the world that the players should put the pride of representing their country above money. I would like to turn this question on the ICC itself.

That it should put the game above money. Frankly speaking, the whole problem has arisen because the ICC signed multi million dollar contracts with the various sponsors for the ICC Champions Trophy. The sponsors are now demanding their pound of flesh.

None can question the pride and commitment of cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Country and cricket have always come first to them, but like all of us, they also need to make money through legitimate means.

A sportsperson's career is not a long one unlike that of a politician, a doctor, an engineer or a lawyer. Here, if someone crosses thirty, he is considered old. And the cricketers sacrifice so much — their education, their social and family life — to `get and stay' there.

Under the circumstances, the players have every right to cash in on their popularity, during the limited time on their hands, and sign endorsements. And now, the ICC is telling them to give it all away simply because it wants to make more money. It's just not fair.

The need of the hour is for the ICC to accept the reality of the situation and reach an amicable settlement with the players. It's not just the Indians who are affected. The players of a cricketing nation as major as that of Australia are up in arms against the ICC. The issue has cut across barriers.

A depleted field for the ICC Champions Trophy would severely dent its viewership, and, in that scenario, the official sponsors, will be the biggest losers in any case.

The ICC should realise that it has to stop the players from revolting, especially with the World Cup only months away. The game's ruling body should not sit on its ego.

www.krishsrikkanth.com

K. SRIKKANTH

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