THE INTERNATIONAL Cricket Council president Percy Sonn on Wednesday made it clear that if India did not sign a mandatory document detailing the terms of agreement between the ICC Development International and the Council's member countries, it would put the 2011 World Cup at risk.
"If the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) fails to agree to the terms of the Members' Participation Agreement (MPA), it will of course mean that they cannot continue as one of the joint hosts of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, thus putting the entire tournament in jeopardy," Sonn said in a release from Dubai. "We hope an agreement can be reached and that common sense will prevail."
At this moment, it looks unlikely that an understanding will be reached unless the IDI agrees to some fundamental changes in the document.
"We made it very clear that we will not be able to sign the document in its current form," N Srinivasan, BCCI treasurer, told HT from Chennai. "We differ on certain basic issues and are clear that certain basic minimum changes are required. We will inform the ICC of this by the Monday deadline it has set us."
Sonn said the new MPA, which will run from 2007 to 2015, was more flexible than the old one and specifically addressed the concerns (over individual endorsements) Indian players had raised ahead of previous ICC events. "It (the MPA) provides more scope for players and boards to maintain their own interests," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Sonn said the new MPA, which will run from 2007 to 2015, was more flexible than the old one and specifically addressed the concerns (over individual endorsements) Indian players had raised ahead of previous ICC events. "It (the MPA) provides more scope for players and boards to maintain their own interests," he said.
{{/usCountry}}India does not agree. "As I see it, Sonn has said he hopes we sign it. We are unable to for now," said Srinivasan.