Is it only about ICC contracts??

Cricket is a religion in India. The public sentiments that are associated with the game are paramount. People here follow the game not only on the field, but off the field too. Cricketing heroes are turned into demi-gods. With such a massive craze for the game, it is imperative that the stakes associated with the game too reach superlative heights.
It is this background that makes India the eye candy of world cricket. Its share in the cricketing revenues all over the world is very high. Most of this money comes from sponsorship deals, endorsement, telecast rights etc. Thus for the ICC as well as BCCI, Indian cricket is like the hen that lays golden eggs. Due to this, contracts, sponsorship deals, television broadcasting rights etc have always been issues of interest for the authorities and perennial source of conflict.
Considering the issue under discussion, we can look in it from the players as well as the Boards’ perspectives. I think the crux lies of the issue lies in the fact that BCCI signed an contract with ICC on the above terms without taking the commitments of the individual players in consideration. The BCCI in India has many times ignored players’ benefits for other gains, and this was one such instance. Regarding the players point of view, they have full right to enter into endorsements with corporate who approach them, unless they have a contract with BCCI forbidding them to do so, and unless these endorsements affect their performances on field (which is like breaching the unwritten promise made out to millions of fans; at least the fans may think in this way!!). Also, the contract terms state a period of +/- 30 days prior to the tournament, which has already commenced. So breaking their individual contracts to agree with ICC terms, the players risk chances of legal action from the companies they are in contract with on the first hand. As far as ICC is concerned, they should have forwarded the contract earlier, but allowing the BCCI to negotiate its terms with the players. ICC also cannot claim that the players have done anything wrong. One interesting point to be cited here is, the contract negotiation with other boards were not so complex as compared to Indian players. It shows employers will milk only those parties from where they have the maximum chances of earnings!!! It just makes us as audience wonder, is the issue only about signing contracts or is it a larger money game??
As far as negotiating ability is concerned, the players are having an advantage not only because of their stature or the following they command, but also that they haven’t done any wrong by entering into individual contract, and cannot be sued on legal terms by the ICC as well as the BCCI. Apart from legal terms, they can be barred from the tournament, but the Boards are well aware of the consequences they will have to endure from the masses for keeping out the players, especially the Big Three (Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly)

Ninad Joshi (U109030)