South Africans refuse to sign ICC contract

The South African cricketers did a turnaround and backed out of signing the ICC contract, even as the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the players exchanged letters in a bid to find a solution to the vexed sponsorship issue.

The South Africans, who had earlier agreed to sign the ICC contract on some conditions, refused to do so after their talks with the United Cricket Board officials failed. "The players want to play in the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka without being bound by any ICC contracts," Tony Irish, CEO of cricketers' association, said.

The Indian players said they would consider BCCI's request to ask their individual sponsors not to air or publish conflicting advertisements, not only for the period of the tournament, but also 30 days thereafter, provided all 'unacceptable terms' in the Participating Nations Agreement, Players Terms are deleted.

The BCCI, in reply, said that it could not concede to such a 'blanket demand' since it had no authority to include or delete any provision in these documents.

"You would have to be more specific for better understanding by the BCCI as well as the ICC," Dalmiya said in his letter to the players.

Referring to another controversial clause, which allows ICC's sponsors to use the images of the players till six months after the tournament, Dalmiya said, "I intend to speak to the ICC to ensure that none of the Indian players are called upon for imaging in the Champions Trophy 2002."

Complete Coverage: The ICC Contract Row

Mail Cricket Editor