Indian players and ICC close to compromise

Newspaper reports from London and inputs from New Delhi suggest that top Indian cricketers and the International Cricket Council (ICC) have reached an agreement on the contract issue that has dogged the warm-up to the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.

Speaking to CricInfo, Niranjan Shah, honorary secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said, "We have not received anything in writing from the players. Even if some agreement is reached, the players still have to sign the relevant contracts and give copies to the board."

It was earlier reported that the ICC and the players had reached a compromise agreement, wherein the following changes had been agreed on:

1) The ICC would not have image rights to Indian cricketers. Previously, the ICC and its sponsors had the right to use footage and photographs of the Indian players for their campaigns for a period of six months.

2) The Indian players will be allowed to advertise with rival sponsors shortly after the end of the ICC Champions Trophy. Under the earlier clause, cricketers could not advertise with rivals of the official sponsors of the ICC, for a period of 30 days before and after the tournament - and of course for the duration of the tournament. It is believed that this period has been reduced to a level acceptable to both parties in conflict and might actually work out to a figure of 17 days after the tournament.

Shah further told CricInfo, "If the players have reached an agreement with the ICC, the Board is only too happy. It was good that the players could meet and sort things out. However, I must tell you that we have not got anything in writing from the players or the ICC so far on this matter."

A point of major concern to the board however, was its exposure to liability from various parties in case a fresh agreement is reached. "Let me make it very clear at this point itself. If the players reach any kind of agreement with the ICC and resolve the matter that is fine. But it must not cause any liability to the Board, now or on a future date," added the secretary.

It must be remembered that an ICC press release yesterday categorically denied that it was seeking any compensation from the Indian board in connection to this matter. The release goes on to say, "What has occurred today is that the BCCI sought a blanket indemnity from any damages claim that may be made in the future against it or the ICC in relation to the ICC Champions Trophy. It sought this undertaking from all other countries playing in the tournament. This request was considered by the countries and it was agreed that such an undertaking could not be given."

As it stands, there have been no claims for compensation from either the ICC or other countries. However, this does not guarantee that such claims may not arise in the future. With regard to this, the ICC says, "Should a claim emerge in the future, it would be a matter for that time to determine who, if anyone was at fault and the size, if any, of any compensation payout."

That might be the one clause that makes emphatic cries of a happy ending a bit premature. That said, this sticky issue has never been closer to amicable resolution. The Board secretary himself was confident, and concluded, "Hopefully, by the end of the day, we'll be able to work things out and send our best team to the Champions Trophy."