FICA has approved Sri Lanka Premier League player contracts

Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) Chief Executive Tim May has confirmed that FICA had negotiated the terms and conditions of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) player contracts with Somerset Entertainment Ventures, the commercial rights' holders of the event.

"In December 2010, FICA engaged in discussions with SEV regarding theconstruction of the Player Contracts for the SLPL commencing July2011. Negotiations were robust but cordial and SEV adopted a number ofrecommendations made by FICA which resulted in a Player Contract in aform acceptable to FICA," May said and added the organisation approvedthe final form of the player contract in January 2011 and communicated

the same to all the player associations.

May also expressed surprise at the BCCI's decision to deny permissionto its players to take part in the SLPL as the Indian board suspectsthe involvement of former Indian Premier League Commissioner LalitModi, who was sacked on financial irregularity charges in the SriLankan Premier League. Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, R Ashwin and nine

other Indian players were scheduled to participate in the tournament.

"I am very surprised to see reports from the Indian media, that BCCIdo not believe that players should sign the Player Contracts - that iscertainly not the opinion of FICA or our legal advisors, and it is ourcharter to protect all players and to ensure that Player Contracts forEvents around the world are in acceptable form to protect player

interests," May said.

May said FICA doesn't have any issue recommending player participationin the SLPL. "It is an event that falls under the jurisdiction ofCricket Sri Lanka, the teams are owned and operated by Cricket SriLanka, Sri Lanka Cricket have provided us with a letter confirming theevent is an official tournament of Cricket Sri Lanka and the Event is

fully sanctioned by the ICC," he said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket officials requested the BCCI to changetheir stand but they refused to do so, Sri Lankan sports ministerMahindananda Aluthgamage told Reuters on Friday. Aluthgamage, who hasalready denied that Modi was involved with the tournament, also saidSLC officials wouldn't be going to India to meet their Indiancounterparts as the BCCI has indicated they won't change theirdecision; but added the SLPL would be held on schedule from July19-August 4. FICA has approved Sri Lanka Premier League player

contracts: May

Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) ChiefExecutive Tim May has confirmed that FICA had negotiated the terms andconditions of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) player contractswith Somerset Entertainment Ventures, the commercial rights' holdersof the event.

"In December 2010, FICA engaged in discussions with SEV regarding the 

construction of the Player Contracts for the SLPL commencing July

2011. Negotiations were robust but cordial and SEV adopted a number of

recommendations made by FICA which resulted in a Player Contract in a

form acceptable to FICA," May said and added the organisation approved

the final form of the player contract in January 2011 and communicated

the same to all the player associations.

May also expressed surprise at the BCCI's decision to deny permission

to its players to take part in the SLPL as the Indian board suspects

the involvement of former Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit

Modi, who was sacked on financial irregularity charges in the Sri

Lankan Premier League. Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, R Ashwin and nine

other Indian players were scheduled to participate in the tournament.

"I am very surprised to see reports from the Indian media, that BCCI

do not believe that players should sign the Player Contracts - that is

certainly not the opinion of FICA or our legal advisors, and it is our

charter to protect all players and to ensure that Player Contracts for

Events around the world are in acceptable form to protect player

interests," May said.

May said FICA doesn't have any issue recommending player participation

in the SLPL. "It is an event that falls under the jurisdiction of

Cricket Sri Lanka, the teams are owned and operated by Cricket Sri

Lanka, Sri Lanka Cricket have provided us with a letter confirming theevent is an official tournament of Cricket Sri Lanka and the Event is

fully sanctioned by the ICC," he said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket officials requested the BCCI to change

their stand but they refused to do so, Sri Lankan sports minister

Mahindananda Aluthgamage told Reuters on Friday. Aluthgamage, who has

already denied that Modi was involved with the tournament, also said

SLC officials wouldn't be going to India to meet their Indian

counterparts as the BCCI has indicated they won't change their

decision; but added the SLPL would be held on schedule from July

19-August 4. (yahoo cricket)