Indian players agree
to sign contract

India's leading cricketers have agreed to sign the controversial ICC contract for next month's Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, paving the way for India to send a full-strength team to the tournament.

The players' spokesman Ravi Shastri said the cricketers made the decision in the "interest of the game".

"The players have decided in the interest of the game to back off for the period of 18 days during the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka next month and will speak to their sponsors on television ads, and hence would be available for selection," Shastri said.

He added: "For the future though, the players will strongly recommend to the board to give them a share of their profit which would be distributed among the international and national cricketers playing the game in India,

"The players have also strongly recommended floating of a players' representative body for better relationship between the board and the players."

The Indian players, currently in England, had refused to sign the contract which requires them to forego their personal endorsements one month before and after the event in favour of the official sponsors in case of a clash of interests.

The players' stand forced the BCCI to begin the process of sending an alternative team, and 25 new probables were short listed for the purpose.

The ICC contract controversy - the complete coverage

Mail Cricket Editor