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| Sunday, 24 November 2002 |
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Indian players key to solving contract row - ICC NEW DELHI, Nov 23 (Reuters) - The International Cricket Council (ICC) feels Indian players still remain key to resolving a vexed contract issue which could affect next year's World Cup in South Africa. "Apparently Indian players are more affected than those from other countries," ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed told reporters on Wednesday. He was asked whether he still regarded Indian players as the key to resolving the problem. "We understand fully what the positions are. We are moving forward," he said. Speed and a set of ICC officials are meeting with official World Cup sponsors in New Delhi to find ways to sort out a dispute over the ICC's participation contract, mainly its controversial player images and ambush marketing clauses. The player terms, which will apply for all ICC events until 2007, were drawn up following a deal with the ruling body's marketing partner Global Cricket Corporation (GCC) worth $550 million. Endorsement-rich But leading players from many test countries, particularly endorsement-rich Indian cricketers, are opposing them as they feel it will affect their commercial endorsements with companies seen to be in conflict with official World Cup sponsors. In New Delhi, Speed has met with World Cup sponsors and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jagmohan Dalmiya on Wednesday over the last two days. "We have a fairly long process to move forward. We had discussions today and moved the process forward," Speed said after his meeting with Dalmiya. An ICC official involved in the discussions hinted that some progress has been made in the ongoing meetings. "It was more than a start," he said, declining to be identified. Speed said his meeting with the BCCI was a follow-up to talks held prior to the September Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, which was almost boycotted by leading players over the contract. The 12-team event in Colombo was preceded by a major row after players from several test countries refused to sign the participation contract over the player terms before most of them, barring the Indian players, agreed to sign up. The ICC settled the issue by relaxing some of the conditions to ensure the participation of leading Indian players like Sachin Tendulkar and captain Saurav Ganguly. "It isn't an easy issue," Speed said on Wednesday. Dalmiya said both the ICC and the Indian board would place details of their discussions before their respective committees. "We have explained BCCI's viewpoint and Speed gave us the ICC's. It is an administrative discussion and will continue," he said. |
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