Indian news round-up

The Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) secretary Niranjan Shah has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India to increase the remuneration of Ranji players. In a letter to the BCCI president, AC Muthiah, Shah urged him to take up the issue at the forthcoming working committee meeting, scheduled on August 25.

"Cricketers of first class tournament are not given importance and are not paid the amount they deserve in comparison to Test and one-day international cricketers," Shah said adding, "Ranji cricketers should be treated on par with Test and one day players as far as remuneration is concerned."

Appreciating the efforts of the BCCI to get the sponsorship amount from logos and encourage Test and one-day international cricketers, Shah said the distribution of 60 per cent from logo money only among the Ttest and one-day international players was unjustified and unfair.

Gayatri Arts has once again moved the Mumbai High Court in an appeal challenging its earlier order declining to stay the contract awarded by the Board of Control for CrIcket in India (BCCI) to the International Management Group (IMG) towards clothing sponsorship for international matches to be played in the next three years.

On July 5, Justice D Deshmukh had dismissed a notice of motion taken out by Gayatri Arts In its suit filed against the BCCI for awarding the contract to IMG. He was of the view that prima facie, it could not be said that there was a concluded contract between the plaintiff and the BCCI.

Gayatri Arts claimed that it had made the highest bid of Rs 90 crore and the BCCI had issued a letter asking them to confirm the offer which was accepted in a reply sent to the board. Thd plaintiff claimed that the BCCI letter constituted a concluded contract between the two.

On June 3, Justices BN Srikrishna and Nishita Mhatre had disposed of an appeal filed by Sham Dhematkar, proprietor oF Gayatri Arts, challenging the earlier order of Justice Deshmukh who refused to stay the contract to IMG-TWI. The bench had refused to stay the contract awarded to IMG and its subsidiary Transworld International (TWI). But the judges gave liberty to the appellant to move notice of motion afresh For staying the contract before Justice Deshmukh who had earlier rejected a similar plea. Accordingly, Gayatri Arts moved a notice of motion but justice Deshmukh dismissed its plea. Being aggrieved, it has now filed an appeal which is likely to be heard next week.