Indian squad for Sri Lanka delayed

India's cricket board has for a second time put off naming the squad for next month's Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka because a dispute between its players and the ICC over personal sponsors remains unresolved.

"Nothing yet. We have deferred the announcement," Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Niranjan Shah told Reuters on Friday from the western city of Rajkot.

Top India players are refusing to sign an ICC contract barring them from any personal endorsement which is in conflict with the world body's authorised sponsors for events like the Champions Trophy and next year's World Cup in South Africa.

The players -- led by Sachin Tendulkar and captain Sourav Ganguly -- have their own lucrative advertising deals and they could be in breach of those agreements if they sign the ICC contract.

Players from other countries, including Australia and South Africa, are also unwilling to endorse the "ambush marketing" clause of the ICC contract barring such personal endorsements for 30 days either side of official tournaments.

Shah said the Indian board was still talking to its players, who are currently in England on a Test tour. "It's a day-to-day thing now," he said.

The controversy threatens to mar the September 12-29 event, seen as a major build-up for the World Cup starting in February.

The BCCI earlier this week postponed its announcement of the squad, after the selectors picked the 14, because of the contract row.

Shah did not confirm domestic media reports that the Indian board was thinking of offering monetary compensation to players in return for their agreeing to sign the ICC contract.

The ICC had set a Friday deadline for submission of squad lists, but Shah did not believe there would be problems over any delay.

The ICC contract debate

Mail Cricket Editor