Cricket World Cup 2003 sponsors -- Pepsi, Lucky Goldstar and Hero Honda -- have made compensation claims arising out of alleged breach of contract by Indian cricketers.

The sponsors have approached the Global Cricket Corporation, the sponsorship rights holders for the event, alleging the Indian players refused to play in the tournament under the originally agreed terms.

The move by the sponsors means the Board of Control for Cricket in India may have to forget about at least a part of its World Cup guarantee money, which has been withheld by the International Cricket Council.

LG confirmed to PTI that the company has filed a claim with the GCC after it was 'ambushed' during the tournament and that case is pending. While Pepsi chose not to comment, Hero Honda was reluctant to share information.

"It is not something that we would like to discuss right now. We are happy with the way things are moving and quite hopeful that the matter would be resolved to our satisfaction," said Atul Sobti, senior vice-president (marketing) of the Hero Honda Motors.

But the GCC confirmed it was faced with compensation claims from the sponsors.