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| Sunday, 25 August 2002 |
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Sri Lanka cricketers will not sign new ICC contract regarding sponsorship by SRIAN OBEYSEKERE AND RANJAN ANANDAPPA Sri Lankan cricketers yesterday declined to sign the new ICC contract in regard to sponsorship rights, further deepening the crisis between the world governing body and players. Asked by the `Sunday Observer' whether the players had agreed to sign contract, the Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL), Anura Tennekoon replied, "No". Tennekoon said, "They declined to sign the contracts pending clarification to certain matters". But he fell short of elaborating what the players demands were. Sri Lanka is down to host the ICC Champions Trophy Tournament competed by 12 countries this September. It is regarded as the next big tournament next to the World Cup and has already generated much hype in terms of status Sri Lanka would enjoy as the host country. The Sri Lankan cricketers voiced concern yesterday over the new ICC contracts binding them in relation to sponsorship deals. In the wake of this new development, Tennekoon said that he would be placing before the ICC the position taken by the players at a meeting with ICC heads and executives of member countries from August 29 to 30. The Lankan cricketers met with BCCSL officials for nearly 3 hours yesterday to put across their views as to `their rights', informed sources said. Tennekoon confirmed that the players had aired `some concerns through their representative 'to the Board. They are said to have aired the view that the new contracts for the forthcoming tournament and upto 2007 also covering next year's World Cup would in effect restrict their rights in regard to sponsorships of their choice. The meeting between the ICC and heads of member countries has been convened in a bid to iron out the differences following players been asked to sign fresh contracts binding them from contracting sponsorships outside those approved by the governing body for its tournaments. The crisis came about with leading Indian players including Sachin Tendulkar and skipper Saurav Ganguly refusing to sign the fresh contracts. Their stand has found allround support despite players from some countries not been affected by sponsorship deals. Meanwhile the Sri Lankan cricket players want the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka to consult the Sri Lanka Cricketers Association on behalf of them before signing any sponsorship agreement after the World Cup 2003. They are also requesting for a guarantee of a payment of 30 percent of the ICC limited overs tournament and 30 percent of the payment of the 2003 World Cup from the Cricket Board. Unless these conditions are met, the Sri Lankan cricketers will not sign the new ICC contracts. This was revealed by the representative for the Sri Lanka Cricketers Association Greame Labrooy. The Cricket Board Chief Executive Anura Tennekoon is expected to leave today for the West Indies to attend an ICC meeting to discuss matters. |
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