BCCI may miss Friday deadline - Shah

With barely hours to go before the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) lock horns in an executive committee meeting in Dubai, BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah offered little hope that the Indian Board could pull a rabbit out of the hat in favour of its players.

Speaking to Gulf News, Shah who is already in Dubai ahead of the three day stormy session which commences today said, "It is unlikely that we (the Board) will be able to meet the Friday deadline set by the ICC to sign the sponsorships agreement for the Champions Trophy.

"We will request, in our talks with the ICC, that the deadline be extended by a day. Who knows maybe the ICC will change their minds.

"It could be that we may sign an agreement just for the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka and breathe a little easily till the World Cup. In a couple of days our position will be clear."

But the Indian Board officials yesterday received a fresh jolt from the Indian cricketers, currently touring England. The players, it is believed, expressed a desire to play in next month's Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka but without signing sponsorship agreements.

The Indian cricketers have reportedly agreed to convince their sponsors to put their media campaigns on ice during the duration of the tournament.

They, however, refuse to abide by the clause which restricts them from advertising for companies one month before and after the tournament.

The events immediately under scrutiny are the Champions Trophy and the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa.

Ironically for the BCCI, who will be led into the session against the ICC by Jagmohan Dalmiya, the ICC is equally adamant that those players who sign this agreement in its totality by Friday can take part in the Champions Trophy.

A cautiously optimistic Shah indulged in a bit of mind reading on the ICC's behalf when he said, "We will put our case forward to them in the hope that they (the ICC) provide some relief to the Indian cricketers.

" But how much they can do for the cricketers remains to be seen."

Shah also informed the players that "The ICC have made the rules and it is necessary to abide by them. "There is no sense in the players wanting to play but refusing to sign the contract. We have to go through with what the ICC requires."

While outlining the BCCI's approach to the events in the three day circus which commences today, Shah refused to subscribe to the view that proceedings could get stormy.

"I don't think it will be a stormy session. We will argue our case stating that we are the most affected.

"A maximum number of Indian companies advertise in India. They also sign on the Indian stars to endorse their products...we will be the biggest losers."

In all but admitting that the Board was walking on thin ice ahead of the meeting Shah cautioned the cricketers saying, "Irrespective of the absence of the big names India will still send a team to the Champions Trophy.

"Most of the 25 probables selected to play for the country have signed the contract. A number of them also have international experience.

"We do not look at India's representation in the event as being minus the bog boys. We look at it as an Indian representation. If individuals want to pull out what can we do. We see it in the overall perspective of the country being represented. We will send another squad."

Shah, like his President Jagmohan Dalmiya who arrives in Dubai tonight, also refused to acknowledge that player spokesman Ravi Shastri had any role to play in the dialogue between the cricketers and the BCCI.

"We are talking directly to the players and not Shastri. The players have asked us to recognise him but we just cannot start talking to anybody who is not an official. The Board is a responsible body and we are experienced in dealing with such situations."

Shah also refused to admit that the ongoing crisis was BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya's toughest assignment yet. "It just so happens that we are faced with a particular situation," Shah offered.

The ICC's Cricket Committee Management meeting, featuring the CEO's of all international cricket boards, commences here today.

It will be followed by the crucial executive committee meeting attended by, among others, the two main protagonists ICC CEO Malcolm Speed and BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya on August 31.