The International Cricket Council (ICC) today welcomed the decision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to adhere it its contractual commitments and name its squad of 15 players for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 by 31 December 2002.

ICC President, Malcolm Gray, said that the ICC was seeking nothing more than what the BCCI had committed to when it signed its Participating Nations Agreement (PNA) for the event in March this year.

"The BCCI committed to a series of obligations in its PNA and the most immediate one is to name its squad by 31 December. It is pleasing that it will meet this obligation," said Mr. Gray.

Mr. Gray also welcomed the commitment of the BCCI to seek a resolution to this matter.

"The critical issue is to ensure that the best team represents India at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003," said Mr. Gray.

"This is what the players want. This is what the people of India want and this is what the rest of the cricketing world wants.

"It is now up to the BCCI to make sure that this happens. It has the right and responsibility to select its team and to ensuring that its players play under the terms that the BCCI first agreed with the ICC in March 2002 and which the ICC has subsequently negotiated a number of substantial concessions to.

"Today's comments that Mr. Dalmiya has the authority to resolve this issue is an indication that the BCCI is fully aware of it responsibilities to the people of India and to world cricket and that it will fulfill them."

For Further Information:

Rohit Moudgill at 98101-49704 and Amit Verma at 98107-40678

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