Lahore (Pakistan): The International Cricket Council on Monday said no immediate deadline has been set for cricketers' contracts and brushed aside fears of a deadlock ahead of next year's World Cup. "There is no immediate deadline for players' contracts and we hope that in the next seven to 10 days this would be solved," visiting ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed told reporters. The eighth World Cup, to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya next February and March, is under threat over profit-sharing between administrators and individual sponsorship of players. The ICC had to show flexibility in the contract after top Indian players, whose individual sponsorship contracts conflicted with official sponsors, refused to sign ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September. "We wrote to the Indian board about the concessions we are ready to make and hope the matter is solved," Speed said.

Extras:
No names of players in 'undesirables' list, says ICC
ICC officials arrive to resolve players' contract row

Tags: cricket, lahore, pakistan, international council, immediate deadline, cricketers' contracts, brushed aside fears, deadlock, world cup, solved, chief executive malcolm speed, south africa, zimbabwe, kenya, profit-sharing, administrators, individual sponsorship, players, champions trophy, sri lanka, concessions.