CHRISTCHURCH (AFP)
The International Cricket Council will speak to Sunil Gavaskar about a possible compromise of interest between his role with the world's governing body and his media career.

Gavaskar, chairman of the ICC's Cricket Committee (Playing), recently launched a stinging attack on England in his column in the Hindustan Times describing them as the "champion whingers of the world". His criticisms came after complaints from Nasser Hussain's team about net facilities after the opening one-day international in Kolkuta.

England coach Duncan Fletcher complained that an official from the game's governing body should not be able to pass comment on a member country and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Tim Lamb raised the issue at the ICC chief executive's meeting in Christchurch Monday.

"Sunil and I will have a discussion about it," said ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed afterwards. "Where we have an issue with Sunil is that he's a volunteer who is chairman of one of our key committees and it's important there is a balance between his role as a journalist and a member of our committee.

"I wouldn't describe it as a carpeting but we need to have a discussion about it."

The ICC also decided to review the controversial bonus point system in one-day international cricket following the recent rumpus during the recent VB Series in Australia, Speed said. Bonus points are awarded in competitions involving more than two teams, and are handed out if a team scores the required runs at a run rate of 1.25 greater than their opponents'.

The system was being considered for use in next year's World Cup in South Africa, but came in for heavy criticism during the series between Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. New Zealand deliberately allowed South Africa to get a bonus point in order to eliminate Australia from the competition.

"We have a decision to make regarding the World Cup. The bonus points have a more immediate effect in a three-match series than one involving more teams such as a World Cup," Speed said. "We have to decide whether to use them or not. My overriding feeling is that when cricket matches are played, both teams are trying to win."

Speed also revealed that former England captain Mike Brearley will be drafted in to offer counselling and support to the eight elite umpires to be appointed by the ICC on April 1. Brearley is a respected psychoanalyst and will be on hand to offer advice to the umpires about handling their hectic workload and coping with criticism from the media.

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