Jagmohan Dalmiya accused India's senior players of lacking intelligence, as the row over their refusal to sign contracts intensified. Dalmiya warned that India could be isolated by the International Cricket Council (ICC) if the players do not sign the controversial sponsorship agreement ahead of next month's Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka. "I am stunned by the lack of intelligence of some of our senior players," the Times of India quoted Dalmiya as saying. "By refusing to sign, they have negated our efforts to negotiate with the ICC." Dalmiya said "ICC will murder us" when their executive board meets to discuss the contentious issue in Dubai on August 31.

The Indian players nominated Ravi Shastri to negotiate with Dalmiya on their behalf. Shastri said Dalmiya did not have the guts to negotiate with him, an accusation Dalmiya scoffed at. "Since I don't have the guts, how can I face him," Dalmiya told the newspaper. "Let me see if I can get hold of Mohammad Ali."

Dalmiya said he "almost begged" with the players to sign the contracts, but "they seem to have more faith in Shastri than me". Negotiations between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the players are expected to resume after the Headingley Test against England.

The BCCI was the first association to complain to ICC that the sponsorship clauses in the contracts were contentious. Clause 13, which the players objected to, reads: "The squad member shall not from 30 days before the first match until 30 days after the last match in the event, directly or indirectly allow his name, voice, image, likeness or other representation to be used... Either (a) in any advertising or endorsement or (b) for any commercial purpose in any media whatsoever by or on behalf of a competitor of any official sponsor or global partner or official supplier."

The BCCI objected to the clause in a letter to ICC in June. "We have distinct problems in complying with the clause in its totality," the letter stated. "For instance, we can't prevent our players from not taking part in any advertisement or endorsement from 30 days before the event till 30 days after the event. We do not interfere with such rights of the players because it directly affects their fundamental rights under the Constitution of India."

Dalmiya is expected to be India's representative at ICC's meeting in Dubai. If no agreement is reached, the BCCI plans to send a second-string team to the Champions Trophy.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd