War of words over Gavaskar comments may not be finished

International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed is still to speak to former Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar about the possible conflict of interest he has as a journalist and also chairman of the ICC's Cricket Committee - Playing.

He told a press conference in Christchurch, New Zealand today that he would be speaking with him in the next day or two.

He was referring to English administrators, including England coach Duncan Fletcher, being upset at Gavaskar's published comments that England were the world's best whingers, at the end of the one-day series against India last week.

But Speed added that he was mindful that Gavaskar was a professional journalist required to write what he thought on matters for his editor, and that in his role with the ICC he was a volunteer.

"I wouldn't categorise it as reining him in or carpeting him as I have seen reported.

"It is the first time it has come up," Speed said.

One of the great things about the game of cricket was the number of volunteers who were involved and while there was a well-resourced administration base building up he was mindful there was still a big role for volunteers to play.

ICC president Malcolm Gray said he had talked with Gavaskar and that Gavaskar had told him he saw no conflict of interest.

Gray also intimated the war of words between England coach Fletcher and Gavaskar might not yet be finished after Gavaskar had read Fletcher's comments in response to his own.