The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : BCCI draws flak on endorsements issue

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Monday, Apr 09, 2007
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BCCI draws flak on endorsements issue

New Delhi: Former cricketers were divided in their opinion on the Cricket Board's radical step to curtail players' endorsements and scrap the graded contract system.

While many ex-players welcomed the move saying it would bring Indian cricket back on track, there were many others who denounced the measures as "regressive". They said it was not fair only to blame players as the selection committee was also equally responsible for India's disastrous show in the World Cup.

Former captain Ravi Shastri, who had taken the BCCI head on to resolve the sponsorship row between the players and the Board in 2002, surprisingly supported curtailing cricketers' endorsements, saying it would help the youngsters keep their focus on the game.

"No one wants to deny anyone a buck. But it may happen that at a very young age, at times when you don't have the backing of education behind, you can just be caught in another world," he said.

Former opener Chetan Chauhan, however, said it was "illegal" to restrict players' endorsements, which was their personal matter. — Agencies

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