ICPA to meet with BCCI in three weeks: Pataudi

The newly-formed Indian Cricket Players' Association will formally meet with the Board of Control for Cricket in India in three weeks' time, by when the nitty-gritty of putting up a representative body of players would be completed.

"As soon as we formalise the association, we will approach the board for discussions on matters concerning players. We need three weeks' time to go through the procedure," ICPA president and former India captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi said in Kolkata on Thursday night.

Pataudi, who was speaking to news persons at a gala fund raising dinner hosted by the ICPA, insisted that his association "wants to work with the BCCI and not compete with it".

Pataudi said he is aware that an earlier attempt to form a cricketers' association had petered out but expressed confidence that the newly-formed body would last as "the current lot of players is more determined".

Emphasising the need for a representative body for players, Pataudi said an association is urgently needed as cricketers nowadays have a hectic schedule.

"Individual cricketers nowadays are very busy and hardly get time to communicate with the board. We (the ICPA) will communicate with the board on their behalf," he added.

The entire Indian and West Indies teams were present at the fund-raiser along with corporate bigwigs, who included BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, former board president Raj Singh Dungarpur, former Test all-rounder-turned television commentator, Ravi Shastri, one of the driving forces behind the ICPA, and noted industrialists Sanjeev Goenka, Harshvardhan Neotia and Subroto Roy of the Sahara Group

ICPA secretary Arun Lal disclosed that "ten corporate houses, including industry body CII, have agreed to give donations" to his association.

Though he refused to divulge the amount being raised from donors he said corporate houses like Pepsi, Britannia, Samsung, RPG, Gujarat Ambuja Cement, TVS Motors and Hero Honda have agreed to donate for the cause of the cricketers.

Besides, two leading Bengali newspaper houses Anandabazar Patrika and Pratidin Prakashani have also come forward to help, he said.

Mail Cricket Editor