da jogodeouro： With just 24 hours remaining before an International Cricket Council (ICC)ultimatum, the row over ICC contracts appeared no closer to a solution inSri Lanka as its cricket board claimed it was unable to meet the demands ofits players
Saadi Thawfeeq29-Aug-2002With just 24 hours remaining before an International Cricket Council (ICC)ultimatum, the row over ICC contracts appeared no closer to a solution inSri Lanka as its cricket board claimed it was unable to meet the demands ofits players.The Board of Control for Sri Lanka (BCCSL) is adamant that demands putforward by the Sri Lanka Cricketers Association (SLCA) on behalf of thenational cricketers ahead of next month’s ICC Champions Trophy areunrealistic given the current cash flow situation of the boardThe SLCA demanded 30 percent of guarantee money paid by the ICC to the BCCSLfor hosting the ICC Champions trophy. This was in addition to the monthlypayments the contracted players received.”We are currently not in a position to meet the demands put forward by theCricketers Association because financially it has not been a good year orus,” said a BCCSL spokesman.”I think it unfair by the cricketers to make such a demand. They are tryingto capitalise on a situation. I don’t think they are seriously affected bythe conditions laid down by the ICC,” he said.The BCCSL recently published their statement of accounts which showed adeficit of Rs. 48 million and sources said that with hardly anyinternational cricket being played in Sri Lanka this year, there was barelyany revenue being accrued to meet the demands the players are making.He said whatever revenue the BCCSL receives from the ICC Champions trophyhas to be channelled into the development of the game and basic operationalcosts.Sri Lanka hosted only a two-Test and three-match one-day series againstlowly rated Bangladesh for the current year.The present ICC contract prevents players from endorsing products from rivalcompanies of the ICC’s sponsors 30 days before or after major ICC events,including next year’s World Cup.So far, the 14 Sri Lanka cricketers picked to play in the Champions trophytournament have not signed the ICC contracts.”We don’t see any major confrontation with the SLCA over this issue,” saidthe Cricket Board spokesman.Sri Lanka are due to meet Pakistan in the tournament opener on September 12.All 10 Test playing nations plus two associate member countries areparticipating in the 18-day event which is a forerunner to next year’s WorldCup in South Africa.