Kolkata: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to speak to the Indian cricketers to settle the sponsorship controversy.

In a letter to ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed board president Jagmohan Dalmiya requested him to speak to the Indian players, who are currently in England, since only ICC can consider players' demand.

"We do not have any negotiating power. So it is the best option that ICC speak directly to the players who are currently in England and ICC is also headquartered in London," Dalmiya said on Wednesday.

He also said that the letter had already been faxed to Speed and "we expect some response within a day or two."

Dalmiya's move comes in the wake of players' failure to respond to a board's letter two days' ago and amidst reports from England that the Indian cricketers are contemplating legal action against ICC on the issue.

Apparently upset over the stubborn attitude of the players, Dalmiya said, "We could not settle the issue because we cannot offer anything to the players as it is the ICC contract and secondly, because players are insisting on speaking through their representative instead of talking directly to the board."

Dalmiya's move is also aimed at buying some more time before announcing the Indian team for the ICC Champions Trophy beginning on September 12 in Sri Lanka. Incidentally, cricketers of all the participating nations have already accepted the ICC terms except the Indian players.

The BCCI chief in his letter also informed the ICC chief executive that he had appropriately conveyed to the Indian players the decisions taken at the board of directors of ICC Development (International) Limited last Saturday in Dubai.

"It is evident that players are actively considering the clarifications provided to them regarding conflicting advertising during the duration and 30 days after the event as well as imaging," Dalmiya said in the letter adding that the players have not yet responded to board's September 2 letter and hence, "it appears that the players are looking for some more clarifications".

Dalmiya further said, "It is felt that you (Malcolm Speed) as the managing director of IDI would be the best person to provide the clarifications and to grant dispensation, if any."

The BCCI president also requested the ICC chief executive for a "sympathetic consideration of the viewpoint of the Indian players, should they be looking for some concessions or relaxation of certain clauses".

Dalmiya also said that he was marking a copy of his letter to Speed to the members of the Indian team through skipper Saurav Ganguly for "proper co-ordination".

Extras:
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