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Journalism of Courage
The International Cricket Council and the Indian cricket board today claimed they were 8216;very close8217; to resolving the contentious players8217; contract issue.
8220;We are very close to resolving it players contract issue. Significant progress has been made,8221; BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said after a marathon meeting with top ICC officials.
Dalmiya along with senior Indian cricketer Anil Kumble represented the Indian board8217;s point of view during a four-and-half hour meeting with Justice Ahmed Ebrahim of Zimbabwe and Dave Richardson of South Africa representing ICC.
The Indian board chief said that the concerns of players were 8220;well representated and well received8221; by the other side.
Justic Ebrahim, who is also part of the six-member committee with Dalmiya to resolve the issue before the next year8217;s World Cup, also expressed happiness at the way the meeting progressed.
8220;There were certainly encouraging signs and the concerns of players have been taken into consideration,8221; he said adding, 8220;We have narrowed down our differences to one or two issues which needs further discussion8221;.
Though he refrained from divulging further details of the interaction, Justice Ebrahim said, 8220;One positive outcome is that the best Indian team is very keen to be at the World Cup, BCCI is also keen to send the best team and we are delighted at this.8221;
No immediate deadline: ICC
Meanwhile, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said in Lahore: 8216;8216;There is no immediate deadline for players8217; contracts and we hope that in the next seven to 10 days this would be solved.8221;
8220;We wrote to the Indian board about the concessions we are ready to make and hope the matter is solved,8221; Speed said.
8220;I think the contract row thing is blown up and ICC hopes nothing untoward will happen,8221; ICC president said last week during a visit to Pakistan.
