Indian board reiterates stand on ICC agreement

The Indian board (BCCI) has reacted curtly to ICC president Percy Sonn's attack that the BCCI was causing delays to the finalisation of the ICC's Members' Participation Agreement (MPA) by refusing to sign it. "I think we made it very clear that we will not be able to sign the document in its current form," N Srinivasan, the treasurer of the BCCI, told Hindustan Times.

"We differ on basic issues and are clear that certain basic minimum changes are required. We will inform the ICC of this by Monday, the deadline they have set us," said Srinivasan. Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, also reaffirmed the stand. "We have decided we will not sign the MPA in its current form," Shah told AFP. "That is the decision taken by the BCCI. We have been given a deadline till Monday to inform the ICC of our objections and we will meet that date. As of now we are not in a position to sign the MPA."

The MPA is a document which lays down guidelines and restrictions that the players must follow for ICC events, including those that deal with ambush marketing.

While almost all the other ICC members are ready to sign the MPA - which covers major ICC tournaments for the period from the end of the 2007 World Cup through to 2015 - the Indian board announced last week that it would not sign it in its present form.

Sonn said that it was "disappointing if delays caused by one member were to hold up a process that is integral to the long-term health of so many". He added that the BCCI's failure to address this issue until the last minute meant that it was in a weak position. "Our other members have indicated that they are in a position to sign the MPA and the process is moving forward rapidly. This means that, unlike the other members' concerns which were given due consideration over several months, the BCCI will only have a limited opportunity for its concerns to be presented and considered."

He also issued an extraordinary warning regarding the 2011 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Asia. "If the BCCI fails to agree to the terms of the MPA, it will of course mean that they could not continue as one of the joint hosts of the World Cup 2011, thus putting the entire tournament in jeopardy," Sonn stated. "Having said that, we hope agreement can be reached and that common sense will prevail."

According to reports, the Indian board has recently sent a copy of the MPA to Rahul Dravid, the Indian captain, and it will only take a decision once he has responded, even though the ICC sent it the draft documentation six months ago.

Sonn was quick to flag that the new MPA addressed many of India's concerns regarding the existing regulations which threatened to lead to a disruption of the 2003 event. "The new MPA is significantly more flexible that the agreements that regulate participation in ICC events through to 2007. In particular, the MPA addresses all areas of concern raised by Indian players ahead of previous ICC events and provides more scope for players and boards to maintain their own interests."

The ICC gave the BCCI until next Tuesday (October 10) to notify it of any difficulties it has with the MPA.

It is believed that Sonn's comments follow a terse letter from Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, to the BCCI expressing concern that this potential problem was being raised so late in the day.