BCCI to pay dues to ICL-linked players

Despite its ongoing tussle with the Indian Cricket League, BCCI will not stop payment of past dues to the players who have joined the ICL and all such pending amounts till the 2006-2007 season will be cleared.

A media release issued to this effect by BCCI's Chief Administrative Officer, Prof Ratnakar Shetty, clarified that reports to the contrary appearing in the media were absolutely baseless and false.

"The board will clear all the dues of the players till the 2006-2007 season," he said.

The BCCI, at its SGM held in Mumbai on August 21, had decided that players and others were free to be with the board or with any other organisation but once they decide to join the other organisation they would not be entitled to any benefits from the BCCI or be connected with any of its activities.

Subsequent to this resolution that was passed unanimously, Kapil Dev automatically ceased to be the chairman of National Cricket Academy and till a new chairman was elected in its AGM on September 28, vice-chairman Ajay Shirke will act as the stand-in for the ousted former India captain.

The 44 Indian players who have joined ICL as declared by the Essel Group-floated venture have also been debarred from taking part in any of its activities and will henceforth also not get financial and other benefits from the board.