Pak, Bangla players
sign ICC contract

Pakistan and Bangladesh players have signed the controversial ICC contract for the Champions Trophy, to be held in Sri Lanka from September 12.

Cricket officials confirmed that members of the Pakistan team, presently in Nairobi, including the seniors have signed the contract and submitted it to the team manager, Yawar Saeed, local daily The News said.

The ICC has asked the individual cricketing boards for a swift conclusion to negotiations with players after a dispute over its "ambush marketing" clause in the contract players must sign to play in the Champions Trophy.

The clause prevents players from endorsing rival products to the ICC's official sponsors for a 30-day period either side of ICC events including next year's World Cup.

The ICC executive board is due to meet in Dubai on Saturday to confirm that the boards have met their obligations.

It is learnt that the Pakistani players signed the ICC contract in Nairobi after Yawar held talks with ICC officials over the matter.

"The Pakistani players have been reassured that, firstly, they will have no conflict of interest in signing the contract and, secondly, the PCB will give due consideration to sharing their earnings from the ICC Champions Trophy if the players suffer due to the ambush marketing clause," the report said.

A Bangladesh Cricket Board official said on Wednesday, "The Bangladeshi players signed the contracts without any reservation immediately after the team was announced for the championship trophy last week."

The ICC Contract Controversy - the complete coverage

- Agencies

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