India's cricketers are forging an alliance with the world players' trade union, the Federation of International Cricketers (Fica), as they try to avoid further sponsorship disputes before the ICC World Cup next year.

"It can only do us good," said a senior Indian player, "we need to be a part of the association that takes care of our interests. We have had a bitter experience over the players contract issue and we don't want to go through the whole agonising process again."

Fica's joint chief executive, former Australian off-spinner Tim May, who is currently in Sri Lanka talking to the world's leading players, welcomed the move, arguing that Fica would be able to help protect their commercial interests and avoid further controversies.

"The Indians have shown willingness to join the Association and we would be only too happy to have them on board," said May. "The Association's main aim is to ensure that interests of all the players are protected."

While the players are in favour of joining Fica, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would prefer to deal directly with the players. When negotiations took place in England recently, the BCCI initially rejected a players' proposal that former India captain Ravi Shastri act as their representative.

"History will say that the BCCI like to deal directly with players rather than with representatives," said May. "That is something the players and their association need to sort out with the BCCI. I think all governing bodies like to deal with players directly because player associations can bring a lot more expertise in dealings. Without them governing body has an advantage. The players are trying to wrest back that advantage and bring about some kind of equity."

While he admitted that the Indian players were worst hit at the moment, May warned that players from other countries might face the same problems in the future.

"In terms of the player terms dispute that concerns the Champions Trophy and the World Cup the Indian players are the most affected at this stage. Currently, we're really concerned about their obligations to their sponsors outside of the ICC sponsors. We're led to believe that the player terms are consistent up to the 2007 World Cup and that means that players from any country could be affected."

Fica has already worked with the Indian players, offering advice and support during the contract dispute that threatened their participation during the current ICC Champions Trophy.

"During the dispute there was constant dialogue between the Indian players and their representative Ravi Shastri and FICA. We were kept abreast of what was going on and if they needed any particular advice on a problem we provided that," said May.

"There has been a compromise for this tournament but there needs to be a process between the Fica, the ICC and the Indian players that will ensure that all parties come out of this issue with satisfactory outcomes," said May. "We need to have the best players to play the best tournaments."

May is only too aware that the players and the ICC have to tread carefully. Mistakes have been made with regard to sale of player rights but Fica will not want to jeopardise a massive USD $ 550 million broadcasting and sponsorship deal with the Global Cricket Corporation.

"The players have been dealt an impossible card and we have to try and come out of it as best as possible. We're very mindful that the ICC has got sponsorship for a large sum of money and this aids the health of cricket worldwide. We want to protect that and it's important that we protect the position of the players as well."

Stressing on the fact that the players were helpless in certain situations, May said, "Where it gets incredibly difficult is when a player has an existing contract with a sponsor that clashes with the ICC sponsor. But the personal sponsor has no contract with the ICC and even if the player requests that his image not be used during the stipulated period this may not stop the sponsor from going ahead. The player is helpless in this regard."

While highlighting FICA's commitment to the players' interests, May stressed the importance of solving the problem: "The ultimate action is for players to pull out of these tournaments where there are contractual disputes. But our objective is to have the best players play the best tournaments. So rather than making demands and threats at this stage, what we want to do is find solutions. I'm sure this is what the ICC want to do as well."

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