ICC Development (International) Ltd (IDI), the commercial arm of the International Cricket Council, today confirmed that its Player Contracts Committee has met for the first time via telephone to consider the Player Terms for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 (ICC CWC 2003).

IDI Chairman, Malcolm Gray, said that the Committee was able to consider the submissions from Boards and players which identified their concerns and that it was now working through the issues raised.

"The submissions received were valuable in clearly identifying the concerns over the player terms." said Mr Gray.

"These concerns are not new and were well publicised in the lead up to the ICC Champions Trophy. In essence, they deal with the commercial obligations that all Boards have agreed to for their players.

"While the issues are not new, they remain complex and difficult and today's meeting was just the first step in seeking to resolve these matters.

"There is a good deal of work to be done and the committee must now work through the issues with all of the ICC stakeholders involved, including our commercial partners, in order to resolve the matter well before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003."

The Player Contracts Committee comprises:

• IDI Chairman, Mr Malcolm Gray
• ICC Vice President, Mr Ehsan Mani
• IDI Managing Director, Mr Malcolm Speed
• Chairman of the Australian Cricket Board, Mr Bob Merriman
• President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya
• Former Zimbabwean judge, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, as an independent member.

The Committee was formed by the IDI Board at its October meeting to consult with all Boards, with the players either through their individual Boards or directly, and with the IDI's commercial partners to clearly identify and address the issues surrounding the Player Terms as soon as possible.

ICC media contact:

Brendan McClements
General Manager - Corporate Affairs
International Cricket Council
Ph + 44 (0) 207 266 7913
Mob: + 44 (0) 7786 194974

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