NEW DELHI: major crises was averted when the Indian Cricketers Wednesday decided to tour Pakistan, under protest and not accept any money from the board of control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
We will not take a rupee from the board but the youngsters have been given the option to accept money because we do not want to ruin their future, The team’s captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth, speaking on behalf of the Indian Cricket player’s ‘Association (ICPA) told waiting reporters here. Later, BCCI joint secretary C. Nagraj informed the reporters that all the 16 players had signed the contract with the board and if they have decided not to accept any ‘money and are going under protest, we are not aware of it.
The board had already shortlisted a second squad in case the concerned 16 players were not available forth tour, selection committee chairman Raj Singh Dungarpur said.
The BCCI officials were visible relieved after the players signed the contract 10 g0 ahead with the tour and Dungarpur said all’s well that ends well
This is what one expects Indian Cricketers to do as there were no preconditions issued by the players today and we gave them no assurances. Not that they asked for any he said.
The Cricket officials also thanked their Pakistani counterparts for patiently waiting though the crisis. ‘The BCCT has seemingly won the battle as the tour is on even after the ICPA set a deadline demanding, among other things, hike in payments to cricketers.
The Indian captain charged the press with only highlighting the money aspect of their charter of demands to make it appear to the layman that we are clamoring for more money.
Srikkanth said there had been a long misconception about Mohinder Amar nath’s role in forming the charter of demands.
Mohinder was never speaking individually, He was speaking on behalf of the ‘Association, the players and for the good of current and future Cricketers, he said.
Srikkanth, who had been speaking to the it marnath was yet 10 arrive Pere, also said it would be the future generation players who ‘would be mostly benefiting if the demands were met by the board.
One must also demands to find that the demanded hike i fees in not only for test playing Crickets those who toil it out the for all leading grades of cricketers, he said. We are not the kind we have been made to be.
Asked if playing under protest could affect the performances of players, Sriktanth said, let me make it very clear that when we are on the field, we forget everything but Cricket.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 17, 1989
