The Hindu : ICC gives Indian players more time

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 01, 2002

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ICC gives Indian players more time

DUBAI AUG. 31. The International Cricket Council today rejected Indian players' offer to play in the Champions Trophy without signing the controversial agreement but gave them some more time to reconsider their decision.

After a marathon six-hour meeting of the executive board here, the ICC chief executive, Malcolm Speed, said the proposal of Indian cricketers to play in next month's mini World Cup in Sri Lanka without signing "was not acceptable".

However, ICC acceded to Indian Cricket Board's request to give it some more time to hold further negotiations with the players and reach an agreement "in the next few days.

"There were many suggestions and lots of scenarios. The BCCI president sought more time and we granted the same,'' the ICC president, Malcolm Gray, told reporters.

The Indian players have consistently refused to sign the Players' Terms form for the tournament, a clause of which requires them to forego their individual endorsements thirty days before and after the event in favour of the official sponsors in case of a clash of interest.

The meeting was attended by the entire top-brass of the ICC and heads of all the member boards.

"Everybody fully appreciated the problem faced by the BCCI. We realised the consequences and the seriousness of the matter,'' Mr. Gray said. He reiterated that the contract was valid only for the Champions Trophy.

The BCCI president, Jagmohan Dalmiya, who spoke to the press separately, said he was hopeful of finding a solution soon. "I have tried to put across the Indian boys' concerns regarding personal endorsements. I have made them agreeable to see that they will be given due consideration. It is the typical problem faced by our players,'' he said.

Sri Lanka Board resolves row

Sri Lanka's Cricket Board clinched a last minute deal with its players to end their dispute over the ICC contracts row, and the host nation will now be able to participate in full strength in the Champions Trophy.

The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka agreed to pay an undisclosed sum out of the guarantee money it would get from the ICC for the tournament, facilitating the signing of the controversial contracts by all players, Board officials said.

— PTI

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