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| Sunday, 1 September 2002 |
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Big money again at the centre of cricket row by Srian Obeyesekere Money, money, money. Big currency in cricket for big commercial interests thriving from the game has today threatened its very existence. If it was bookmakers who not so long ago had the International Cricket Council (ICC) grappling to save the game from extinction for a huge domination of cricket by black money, today the world governing body has deemed it fit to clamp down on cricketers rights in relation to sponsorships of their choice. Not since perhaps the Kerry Packer crisis of the 1970's which saw the advent of rebel cricket with players breaking away for better wages has the game run into such a crisis. Though of course, in this instance the ICC's decision in relation to controlling sponsorship rights of players has not been wholly accepted. While players of most member countries have not been affected by the recent ICC requirement of signing fresh contracts that would effectively prevent them from endorsing rival products of ICC approved sponsors for the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy and 2003 World Cup, cricketers from Sri Lanka and India are yet to sign. Where the world governing body has not won whole hearted support of its move is the sudden timing of it. As much as the clause running into question. Leading players like Sachin Tendulkar and his captain, Saurav Ganguly have defied the ICC refusing to sign. That it has been rushed on them where they are not in a position to suddenly forego huge sponsorships which would cost them millions of rupees in revenue. Interestingly, Sri Lanka which is hosting the Champions Trophy considered the next big tournament next to the cricket World Cup, has been drawn into the crisis with its entire squad for the tournament refusing to sign the ICC contract unless certain demands were met. Notably, players from both Sri lanka and India had not met the Friday 30th deadline set by the ICC to sign the new contracts also binding them till the 2007 World Cup. Back home, the impasse that began the previous week had reached its second week upto last Friday at the time of writing. Officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) were engaged in hectic shuttling about in a frantic effort to reach agreement with the players. The Sri Lankan cricketers, unhappy with the prospect of signing the contracts except on their conditions, resorted to having representatives from the Sri Lanka Cricketers Association putting across their views to the BCCSL. They wanted 30 per cent of the earnings the BCCSL would receive from the Champions Trophy and the World Cup as a condition to signing the contracts. Meanwhile, the local selectors too were kept on their toes in view of the crisis. Chairman of Selectors, Guy de Alwis when contacted by the `Sunday Observer' said that not till September 2 he would know the position whether the players had signed the contracts or not. The impasse left the national selectors with the option of having to look elsewhere if the selected squad declined to meet the ICC demands. While it is understood there are several leading Sri Lankan cricketers who enjoy huge sponsorships, the players said to be most affected by the recent development is star pace bowler, Chaminda Vaas and allrounder, Kumar Dharmasena who has been recalled to the squad for the Champions Trophy from September 12-29 after a long lay off. Both players are said to display brands of rival sponsors to that of the ICC's Pepsi Cola. It is understood that however, Sri Lankan captain, Sanath Jayasuriya would not be affected since he has a sponsorship with Pepsi. However, the local cricketers have aired the view to their Board through their representatives that the ICC demand in principle is unfair. That it was a depriviation of their right for sponsors of their own choice. A contention behind which players from leading countries like Australia, South Africa and England have put their weight. In the wake of these developments, as to the Lankan players their demand reflectively for 30 per cent of what the local board would get would not look unreasonable. For the general consensus is that it is the cricketers who sweat it out in the middle to swell the board coffers. It is they who have taken the game to new heights. their achievements on the field that has seen the game as elsewhere around the globe illuminated as it is. In terms of attraction selling cricket as it does opening the doors for commercialism to thrive on. |
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