Aussie players reject ICC Trophy contracts

Australia's participation in next month's ICC Champions Trophy was under threat on Wednesday after their leading players refused to sign contracts.

International Cricket Council (ICC) contracts preventing players from endorsing products conflicting with official sponsors were illegal, Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) chief executive Tim May said.

The provisions are designed to prevent marketing conflicts at ICC events such as the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka and next year's World Cup in South Africa.

"For this Champions Trophy there's not one Australian player that would have a direct conflict with a major sponsor," May told reporters on Wednesday.

"However the players have taken this particular stance because, just because they don't have one now, they may well have one in the future."

May said ICC contracts were inducing players to breach existing contracts.

"That's not only unreasonable, it's unlawful," he said.

Many leading Indian players -- led by Sachin Tendulkar and captain Saurav Ganguly -- endorse a wide range of products not sanctioned by the Champions Trophy and would stand to lose a large sum of money if they agreed to the contract.

ACB chief executive James Sutherland told Reuters: "In the end we're confident we can work with the players to resolve any concerns they may have.

"We always expect to field our best team and the ICC Champions Trophy is no different."

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said he would not tolerate any infringement of the ICC deal. The ICC has told national boards they must send their best teams to the Champions Trophy.

May told Reuters player associations around the cricketing world had advised their players they should not accept the playing agreements in their current form.

"We've forwarded the FICA (Federation of International Cricketers' Associations) advice (to the Australian players)," May said.

"An offer has been made, an offer has been rejected, I would have thought the issue is now back with the ICC."

May said the ACB had not signed the Participating Nations Agremeent (PNA) which required participating national boards to provide their best available teams for ICC tournaments.

"We're certainly angling towards a permanent fix or a temporary fix for this Champions Trophy and then further meetings leading up to the World Cup," May said.

Mail Cricket Editor