Shastri welcomes
ICC climbdown

Indian players' spokesperson Ravi Shastri on Wednesday evening welcomed the International Cricket Council's move to limit the contract with the players to the Champions Trophy only.

Speaking to rediff.com, he said: "It's a positive move, but it will only make sense if fresh contracts are made."

Earlier, the ICC confirmed that the controversial agreement which has created a storm between the Indian players and the establishment is valid only for the Champions Trophy, in Sri Lanka next month.

In a statement, the ICC stressed that the agreement "has only ever been for this Champions Trophy". It said it is ready to "listen" to its members seeking to renegotiate the terms for next year's World Cup in South Africa which are "identical to the Champions Trophy terms and conditions".

"This agreement has never been designed to commit players for other events. Agreements with boards and players are done on an event by event basis," ICC spokesman Brendan McClements said.

"This agreement, as it always has been, is for the Champions Trophy only."

BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya had said at a press conference in Bangalore on Tuesday that the board had tried to convince both players and ICC that the current terms be restricted to Champions Trophy only and the game's world body had agreed to it.

"The board had proposed to the players and ICC that the players could agree to abide by the players terms only for Champions Trophy. This should not be treated as a precedent by ICC for its future events and ICC had agreed to the board's proposal in writing," Dalmiya had said.

Regarding the World Cup, McClements said, "ICC has been given signed agreements from each of the 10 full members that commit them to play in the World Cup" and "each of the boards have agreed that their players will be bound by the terms and conditions that are identical to the Champions Trophy terms and conditions".

Earlier report
ICC admits backing down on agreement

Mail Cricket Editor