The ICC contract issue refused to die down, with Indian sponsors accusing it of not protecting their interests and saying that they were not willing to sponsor future cricketing events at the cost of their commercial interest. Accusing the ICC of having “failed to protect sponsors’ interest”, LG Electronics India Ltd’s Ganesh Mahalingam said “the time is probably right for forming a sponsors’ club”.

“Sponsors have been shortchanged (by the ICC). As per the present terms, players will not endorse products of rivals for only 18 days during the tournament and 17 days after against 78 days envisaged earlier.” Hero Honda’s senior vice-president (Marketing & Sales) Atul Sobti said “We have agreed for such concessions only for this trophy. No, we will not agree to such terms for the World Cup”.

Stating that the “deal” between the ICC and the players had not been “done too well”, he said “this should not be repeated in future. I think they (ICC) wanted a solution and we were informed at the last moment about the competitive clause being reduced to 18 days”. The month-long crisis over the ICC sponsorship issue blew over on Sunday when the BCCI deciding to send its top players to the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka after the International Cricket Council climbed down further and made a compromise offer.