The Indian board has pledged to honour the International Cricket Council's Tuesday deadline for naming the side for the tournament starting in southern Africa in February.

But the Board of Control for Cricket in India is backing a player rebellion against the ICC's participation contract which stipulates that they freeze personal endorsements conflicting with official sponsorships of the event.

The players oppose parts of the ICC's seven-year rights deal worth $550 million for its events up to 2007.

The Indian team members have until January 14 to sign up and the world cricket body has said the BCCI would face huge compensation claims if it does not field its best side.

The selectors will be concerned about the team's poor current run in New Zealand and its possible impact in the final build-up for a tournament which will be played largely on bouncy pitches.

While the batting line-up is expected to be retained despite its current struggle on seam-friendly pitches, pressure will be on Vangipurappu Laxman and leg-spinner Anil Kumble.

Indian batsmen have registered impressive wins this year, including success in a tri-series in England and in the Champions Trophy, where they were joint winners with Sri Lanka.

But Laxman is under pressure after repeated failures in New Zealand, where India lost the second one-day game in Napier on Sunday to go 2-0 down in the seven-match series after heavy defeats in both the preceding Tests.

He bagged a pair in the first Wellington Test and made nine and 20 in the two one-day innings.

Laxman has been criticised for his inability to rotate the strike and some former players, such as ex-Test all-rounder Madan Lal, have backed young left-hander Dinesh Mongia, who is also a better fielder.

Kumble is expected to squeeze into the side as the second spinner behind Harbhajan Singh.

India's leading wicket-taker in both versions of the game with 300 one-day scalps has struggled to retain a permanent place in the one-day side this year and his batting and fielding have also diminished sharply.