Focus on contracts in marketing-committee meet

The much-awaited players' contracts and the contentious television rights issue will top the agenda when the re-constituted marketing committee of the Indian board meets in Delhi on Thursday.

The committee, headed by newly-elected president Sharad Pawar, is also expected to take a decision on team sponsorship. Sahara's sponsorship contract expired on November 30, but was extended upto the Test series against Sri Lanka.

The players' contracts have been put on the backburner for long and Pawar had admitted his concern over the delay in its finalisation immediately after his election to the top post late last month.

``We have to finalise the players' contract with top most priority," Pawar had said. "This cannot be delayed any more. We also understand the contract with Sahara has ended. They have extended the contract for Sri-Lanka series only. Hence the marketing committee will have to look for a suitable sponsor to replace them and this is second in our priority list."

Considering that the Pakistan tour is hardly a month away, the committee would have to show urgency in resolving the imbroglio over telecast rights as well as the new contracts for cricketers.