ICC admits backing
down on agreement

The International Cricket Council admitted that it has backed down on the controversial agreement that is at the centre of a storm between the Indian players and administrators, and confirmed that the contract would be valid only for the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka next month.

An ICC spokesman said the game's governing body agreed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India's proposal to limit the agreement only for next month's tournament instead of all ICC events till 2007 as envisaged originally.

"Yes, this agreement is valid only for the Champions Trophy," the spokesman said on Wednesday.

"ICC will draw up a fresh agreement for the World Cup in South Africa next year," he added.

BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya had, on Tuesday, said in Bangalore that the ICC had given such an assurance in writing to the Indian board in a bid to resolve the crisis.

The Indian players have refused to sign the agreement because of a clause, which requires them to forego their individual endorsements for a period of one month before and after an ICC tournament in favour of the official sponsor, in case of a clash of interest.

Mail Cricket Editor