BCCI sticks to stand, gives final deadline

The four-hour deliberation by the BCCI executive committee, which had the former Law Minister Arun Jaitley as a special invitee, decided that the BCCI will stick to the 30-day restriction imposed on players in not endorsing rival products. Interestingly, the ICC had negotiated for a 16-day restriction with the players. Besides passing this resolution, the BCCI also gave a final deadline to sign on the dotted line. ‘‘The selection committee will finalise the team for the Champions Trophy on Monday and before that the players have to make their stand clear,’’ he said.

But late night development in England indicated that Dalmiya seemed to have worked out a deal with the Indian players and this would mean the top stars will finally play in the Champions Trophy. Sources said that the players wanted Dalmiya to recognise their union in lieu of signing the contracts with the 30-day clause. And since Dalmiya clarified today that the BCCI had no problems with the players forming a union, it seems the crisis will be resolved amicably in the next couple of days.

Explaining the posture taken by the BCCI, Dalmiya said that the Indian board had reasons for not accepting the ICC’s fresh agreement. In case, the Board were to accept the agreement, then it would want a written undertaking from the international body to the effect that ICC would not ask for any compensation or damages owing to a financial loss. But Dalmiya also added that ICC has rejected this request.

Putting up a pro-player front Dalmiya said that in case the players suffered any loss from their individual sponsors from signing the 30-day clause, the BCCI will be ready to compensate them.