Kapil endorses players' stand

Former all-rounder Kapil Dev criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India for "threatening" to send a second-rung team to the next month's Champion's Trophy in case the top cricketers fail to sign the 30-day bar clause of the International Cricket Council on conflict advertising, saying this would compromise national prestige.

"How can they ever think of compromising with or staking the honour and prestige of the whole nation, as any team playing an international tournament represents national pride, whatever the circumstances," the former India captain told reporters in Ludhiana.

Kapil, who supports the stand taken by the Indian cricketers, said if he was in the same situation he also would have refused to sign the ICC contract.

"Nor would I have have given in to any of the dictates from whatever quarters," he added.

The BCCI's working committee, which met in Delhi on Saturday, asked its players to sign the 30-day bar clause on conflict advertising by Monday, when the selection committee meets in Kolkata to pick the "best available" team for the Champions Trophy.

BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya has said that only players who agree to sign the Players' Terms form will be considered for selection on Monday.

On Saturday, he had urged the Indian players to sign the contract and even offered to compensate them for any loss suffered by signing it.

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Mail Cricket Editor