ICC to discuss Indians' conditional offer
The International Cricket Council has virtually acceded to the Board of Control for Cricket in India's request to extend Friday's deadline to sign the ICC contract by a day and agreed to take up the Indian cricketers' conditional offer to play in next month's Champions Trophy at its executive committee meeting in Dubai on Saturday.
"Today we presented our case, our problems regarding the
players not signing the ICC contract. But the ICC cannot change
the rules for us and they have left it to the executive to take a final decision," BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said after attending the day-long meeting of the ICC Cricket Committee - Management.
Shah declined to say whether the ICC had already discussed the Indian cricketers' proposal for playing in the tournament
without signing the contract.
"How can they not sign and play at the same time; it is not possible. They will have to comply if they have to play,"
he said.
He said the ICC understands the BCCI's plight but their hands are tied.
"We gave them a lowdown on what happened so far. If the players refuse to sign, how can
we force them?" he asked.
Shah said the BCCI would not talk to players' spokesman,
Ravi Shastri, as he has "no locus standi".
"But the board is in touch with the players directly, though that posed its own
hurdles.
"The players are in England and it is difficult to
communicate with them. Furthermore, they are amidst an
important Test series and will be playing the crucial decider
Test now. So we do not want to disturb or upset them," he said.
He refused to accept the argument that if the big names
in Indian cricket do not play, India will be practically
sending a second string team to the ICC tournament.
"All the 25 players in our list have international exposure. They will
be equally good. Only Srinath, who is in England, has not signed. Perhaps, he could not be contacted."
Earlier report
India seek extension of Friday deadline
The ICC contract controversy - the complete coverage
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