BCCI, ICC truce may be short-lived

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January 26, 2003 02:32 IST

Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya on Saturday hinted that a stormy session of legalese awaits in Laussane's Court of Arbitration in Sports, where the dispute related to the World Cup sponsorship issue is to be resolved.

Dalmiya said in Kolkata that the BCCI will argue at the 'appropriate time and place' that it is not bound by the Participating Nations Agreement.

He said the board will also 'raise its argument concerning the grant of unreasonable excessive rights to the Global Cricket Corporation by ICC Development International'.

Dalmiya criticised the International Cricket Council's stance on accepting the altered contracts of the Indian players. "I pity them [ICC]. There are so many ifs and buts.

"Who is making the claim? Who is paying? Who is going to be the arbitrator? Nothing is sure yet," he said referring to the ICC's statement released from London, which said that the BCCI would have to pay compensation claims, if any, made by sponsors.

He said the ICC's behaviour was 'gallery show, which is necessary sometimes'.

The BCCI seems to have decided to challenge the ICC's decision to withhold payment of $9 million in World Cup fees. Dalmiya said, "Someone who keeps our money will pay the interest."

He said he was in talks with some sponsors to dissuade them from claiming damages. At the same time he also thanked the IDI board members for 'making it possible to put cricket in the driver's seat'.

"India will be at the World Cup in full strength, and that is the good news," he said.

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