The International Cricket Council has advised all Boards that it would not change the ambush marketing protection given to the ICC's commercial sponsors, it was confirmed today.

In a letter to all Chief Executives ICC Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, reiterates the importance of these protections to the sport and calls on all Boards to meet their obligation to send their best teams to the ICC Champions Trophy.

In line with other major sporting events and previous Cricket World Cups, the ICC is protecting its commercial partners by ensuring that their competitors are unable to associate with the event.

In 2000, based on agreements in place for the 1999 World Cup, all Boards, through the ICC, agreed to a number of sponsorship and personal endorsement restrictions in return for $US550 million for the commercial rights to ICC events through until 2007.

The ICC is to distribute a record $US102 million of this income to the Boards and the players from the ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003.

In addition to this payment, South Africa is to receive tens of millions of dollars to stage the tournament, including the funding for ground redevelopment and infrastructure while $US13 million is to go directly to fund the development of the game around the world.

In return the ICC is seeking to ensure that the agreements previously reached with the Boards are adhered to.

Mr Speed said today that the Boards and the players are the two of the key beneficiaries of the ICC's commercial agreements.

"Two of the main beneficiaries from the ICC rights agreement are the Boards and the players," said Mr Speed

"More than $US102 million will be going to these stakeholders from the next two ICC events. Prize money alone will be more than $US6 million, with the World Cup prize money rising from $US1 million in 1999 to $US5 million in 2003.

"At the same time, each Full Member will receive more than $US8.850 million in distributions."

In the letter, Mr Speed states that the ICC's stance in protecting its commercial partners is consistent with other sports and based on cricket's previous experience.

"Every major sporting event provides protection to their partners and anyone involved in elite sport would recognise that this is an essential component of being able to stage these events," said Mr Speed.

"In structuring these agreements, ICC has used the experience of previous Cricket World Cups. As a result, the protections in place today largely duplicate those that have existed previously, in particular the protections that were in place for the 1999 Cricket World Cup in England.

"It is also worth noting that these conditions are also less onerous than those imposed on similar events. For example the Olympics does not allow any competitor to act as a media correspondent during the event. No such restriction exists at ICC events."

The letter confirms that the ICC has been in discussion with the representatives of some players about the restrictions on personal endorsements with competing sponsors but that no compromise could be reached.

"The ICC is well aware of ambush marketing programs being developed in conflict with tournament sponsors. To change the agreement in the manner sought would dramatically undermine the essential protection ICC's commercial partners are entitled to enjoy," the letter says.

"ICC has now advised the player representatives that it is not able to modify the ambush marketing restrictions in these agreements."

The ICC also confirmed that seven out of 10 Full Members have signed their Participating Nations Agreement (PNA) for the Champions Trophy and that all Full Member Boards have signed the PNA for the 2003 World Cup.

Under this agreement, each Board is committed to sending its best team to these events and the ICC is expecting each Board to meet these commitments by securing their players agreement to participate.

Mr Speed highlighted that the negotiation of payments and other terms and conditions for players is the responsibility of the individual Boards.

"The ICC has no direct commercial relationship with any player. Each Board must reach its own agreements with their players as to the terms and conditions that are acceptable to them to agree to represent their country," said Mr Speed.

In light of today's deadline for the submission of the player agreements for the ICC Champions Trophy, the ICC has urged each Chief Executive to give this issue their highest priority.

ICC Media Contacts:

Brendan McClements
General Manager-Corporate Affairs
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 266 7913
Mobile: + 44 (0) 7786 194974
Email: brendan.mcclements@icc-cricket.com

Mark Harrison
ICC Communications Manager
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 266 7935
Mobile: + 44 (0) 787 944 1891
Email: mark.harrison@icc-cricket.com

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