ICC to meet Indian board and ICL on Monday

The ICC will meet representatives of the BCCI and the rebel ICL in Johannesburg on Monday, instead of Saturday as first scheduled.

The meeting is part of the ICC's plan of reaching a compromise on the issue of the rebel league, which has affected the careers of its 150 cricketers. The ICC, it is learnt, is making a serious push for a settlement and its president David Morgan welcomed the idea of discussing the issue in person.

"I've long regarded it as a priority to bring together the BCCI and the owners of the ICL and I'm pleased to say we have fixed a meeting to take place in Johannesburg on Monday," Morgan said.

"I hope we might be successful in coming to a mutually acceptable conclusion. I can't be certain that will be the case but I hope we can at least make a start in bringing about a settlement.

"I think this is significant because experience tells me that the best opportunity to solve a dispute is to have the parties face-to-face."

The issue was discussed in detail at the ICC board meeting in Perth last month following which, it is learnt, the ICL was offered a masters/veterans tournament. However, the ICL is sticking to its demand of being granted "authorised unofficial cricket" status under existing ICC rules.