Patuadi seeks to solve issues through talks with BCCI

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Thursday, January 1, 1970, 5:30 [IST]

Kolkata: Former skipper and president of the newly floated Indian Cricket Players' Association (ICPA) Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi has said that he would prefer sorting out matters with the Indian Board through discussion while emphasising that the nascent body should have a true representative character.

Pataudi, who is here to attend the ICPA launch-party this evening, however, stressed the need for such a body in the country representing cricketers saying if players in Australia, England and South Africa could form such associations, "why can't their Indian counterparts do the same". Ruling out any possibility of confrontation with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Pataudi said, "We will sort out things through mutual discussion with the Board and there will not be any hesitation from our side to clarify things sitting across the table." Pataudi, known for his leadership qualities, however, emphasised the need for giving the ICPA a true representative character saying all first-class cricketers numbering a little over 580 of the country should be brought into its fold. "We shall look after the welfare of players from all over the country," he said adding that, "only a handful of cricketers cannot run such an association." Pataudi said that he would meet BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya shortly on the issue of recognition for ICPA. Expressing ignorance about the launch of a similar body over a decade ago Pataudi said that the new body should be properly put in place first before discussions with the Board. Dalmiya has already gone on record saying that the players' organisation to get due recognition by the country's apex body for cricket, would have to include all Indian first-class cricketers and not just a handful of star cricketers. The ICPA was launched only a couple of days ago with top stars of the Indian cricket team like skipper Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble as founder members and former Test opener Arun Lal as its secretary. The association was launched in the wake of standoff between the Board and the top cricketers on the sponsorship contract issue just before last month's Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka. The International Cricket Council (ICC), the world governing body, has already set up a five member Empowered Committee which includes Dalmiya, to settle the issue of players terms before the February's World Cup in South Africa.