Cricket: ICC warns India over World Cup

NEW DELHI - The International Cricket Council (ICC) has warned the Indian cricket board its refusal to sign a commercial document for global events could jeopardise its joint World Cup planned for 2011.

The cash-rich Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is refusing to sign a Members Participation Agreement (MPA) needed from national boards for finalising the ICC's sponsorship deal for events from 2007-2015.

The Indian board wants certain clauses to be amended, saying it would otherwise badly affect its own commercial deals reported to top $1 billion for the next four years.

ICC president Percy Sonn has criticised the Indian board for not acting on the issue for six months, until the deadline was near, and said the BCCI should raise all its objections within a week.

"Despite the fact the other members involved in the process are now in a position to sign the MPA, the Indian board has just this week announced it has problems with the agreement's content," he said in a statement.

"It is thus very disappointing the BCCI has only recently been able to review the agreement and raise its concerns.

Sonn warned the controversy could affect Indian plans for jointly staging the 2011 World Cup with Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"If the BCCI fails to agree to the terms of the MPA, it will of course mean they could not continue as one of the joint hosts of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, putting the entire tournament in jeopardy," he said.

"Having said that, we hope agreement can be reached and that common sense will prevail."

- REUTERS