Senior players for contract system

Five senior Indian players have asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India to have a contract system for them based on their seniority, said Ratnakar Shetty, member of the BCCI's finance committee and joint secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association in Mumbai on Friday. Talking to PTI, Shetty said that this was a suggestion which came from the players. A decision in this regard will be taken by the Board's finance committee only after going through all the aspects. "When a player gets injured and is out of the team for months, he does not get paid enough though the Board bears his medical and travelling expenses," Shetty said. "Hence, the players want something like a contract system which will give them a sense of security."

Asked if the system could be implemented in India, Shetty said "it has to be seen after it (system) comes into existence. But for this, the players will have to turn professionals and also their tax and legal problems have to be taken into consideration".

Meanwhile, talking to reporters at the end of the camp, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said the final shape to the contract system would be given after a few more rounds of talks with the board. The players who met Shetty in Bangalore were Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, besides Ganguly.

Gavaskar to chair ICC committee meeting

The ICC Cricket Committee-Playing will hold a discussion on the role of third umpires, technology and on-field playing conditions when it meets in London on May 23. The three-day meeting, chaired by Sunil Gavaskar, will consider the question of technology against a background of technical developments in broadcast coverage and its affect on the role and authority of umpires. The agenda for the meeting also includes maintaining the current situation, an increased use of technical assistance in making decisions, or a reduced reliance on technology.

An ICC press release said that Australian umpire Darrell Hair will also join the meeting on the first day to give an umpire's perspective on the on field role and third umpires, in relation to TV replay referrals and decisions. All member countries have been invited to give their views and recommendations at the meeting. Decisions reached will be effective for a three-year period starting September 1 this year.

All ICC full-member countries plus associates will be represented at the meeting and among the delegates, besides Gavaskar, will be Allan Border (Australia), John Reid Jr (New Zealand), Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan), Brian Basson (South Africa), Sidath Wettimuny (Sri Lanka), Kris Srikkanth (India), Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe), Jackie Hendriks (West Indies), Roquibal Hassan (Bangladesh), David Acfield (England), Geoff Edwards (Canada), John Everett (Scotland) and Harilal Shah (Kenya). ICC chief executive David Richards and cricket operations manager Clive Hitchcock will represent the ICC management at the meeting.

Saba Karim announces retirement

Former Indian stumper Syed Saba Karim on Friday announced his retirement from the game. Karim who had an eye surgery in Chennai and treatment abroad, said "I have decided to retire not only from first class cricket, but also from club cricket. But I'll be available if my office Tata Steel wants my services for the Times shield." The wicket-keeper batsman, who made his debut in 1982-83 as a 15-year old, said "I have no option other than calling it a day as my doctor informed me last month that the retina of my right eye had suffered permanent damage".

The 33-year-old Karim who played for India in a solitary Test match and 34 ODIs injured his eye against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup in Dhaka last year when an Anil Kumble delivery struck him on the right eye off the batsman's boot. Karim in his brief period as Indian wicket-keeper scored 352 runs in 34 matches and took 27 catches and effected three stumpings. His only Test was against Bangladesh in November last year when he scored 15 and took one catch. Karim described East Zone's triumph in the Deodhar Trophy twice under his captaincy as the most memorable moment of his cricketing career.

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