ICC now aware of Indians' problems: Speed

Desperate to resolve the contract issue well ahead of the 2003 World Cup, the International Cricket Council said on Wednesday it now has a "better understanding" of the problems faced by Indian cricketers and will make all efforts to find a mutually acceptable solution.

In a bid to find a solution to the vexed players' contract issue which had almost jeopardised the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka recently, top ICC officials met Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmogan Dalmiya here and discussed the issue at length but made no promises of an early settlement.

ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed, who was closetted with Dalmiya for over two hours, admitted that it is not an "easy task" to find a solution.

"It is not an easy issue but we now have a better understanding of the problems faced by Indian players. The process has started but there is no quick solution," Speed said after the meeting.

"What's apparent is that the Indian players are the most affected. We came to know who are the players involved. We need to discuss many things before we can find a solution," he added.

The contract issue involves a controversial clause in the Players' Terms form for ICC tournaments, which bars cricketers from endorsing products which are in conflict of interest with the official sponsors of the event, for a period of 30 days on either side of the tournament.

The Indian players had refused to sign the mandatory form and participated in Champions Trophy only after the ICC made an exception and agreed to reduce the restriction period to 17 days after the event.

The ICC and BCCI had agreed to discuss the issue after the Champions Trophy.

Describing the meeting as an "administrative discussion", Dalmiya said the BCCI's viewpoints were put forward and the ICC was made aware of the problems faced by Indian cricketers.

"We had a long discussion. He (Speed) gave the ICC's viewpoint. I will now take up the matter at the board's Working Committee meeting," Dalmiya said.

Speed, who also met the ICC sponsors during his two-day stay in the city, said his trip was "fruitful" and helped him take the solution-finding process forward.

"There was a need to have a discussion on various aspects. I had long meetings with the sponsors, seeking to establish what their priorities are for the World Cup. It is a fairly long process but we are moving forward," he said.

Speed, who arrived in Delhi on Tuesday, held a series of meetings with the official sponsors who are keen to ensure that they get sufficient mileage from the event.

Mail Cricket Editor