Kolkata: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday accused the International Cricket Council (ICC) of pushing it to a 'position of impossibility' on the contracts issue and referred the world body's 'final offer' to its Special General Body Meeting to be held in Kolkata on December 25. A marathon six-hour meeting of the Board office-bearers, who gathered here to discuss yesterday's ultimatum from ICC, felt that the problems faced by the Indian players were "unique in nature" and as such their demands were justified. BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya told reporters after the meeting that ICC's position would not stand before law. "Inducements to breaking pre-existing contracts would not survive in the eyes of law because it entailed serious deprivations to the players," he said. Dalmiya said BCCI's position on the three controversial clauses in the players' contracts was very clear. "It would not be possible to adhere to the restriction (on personal endorsements) of 30 days before the event or any day after the event. It is with great difficulty that restrictive clauses during the event could be agreed upon," he said referring to the clause which bars players from endorsing companies in conflict of interest with the official sponsors. Regarding the clauses which allow the official sponsors to use player images for a period of six months after the event Dalmiya said, "BCCI would at best agree to imaging up to a period of two months after the event." Also, the sponsors should not be allowed to use images of players having pre- existing conflicting contracts, he said. Dalmiya said BCCI had taken this position in consultation with the top players. In its 'final offer' to resolve the dispute ahead of the World Cup, the ICC on Thursday announced a series of concessions in the original document including a 25- day reduction in the ambush marketing clause after the event. Under the original clause, the players were barred from endorsing companies in a conflict of interest to the official sponsors of the tournament for a period of 30 days before the event, during the event and 30 days after it. But, ICC said the clause would now be valid only for five days after the event. The validity period of the image clause, was offered to be reduced to three months. Some more unspecified restrictions were offered to be imposed on the use of player images by ICC sponsors in order "to avoid any suggestion of a personal endorsement by the players".

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BCCI calls EGM to discuss ICC contract imbroglio

Tags: cricket, kolkata, board of control for cricket in india, bcci, international cricket council, icc, bcci president jagmohan dalmiya, world cup.