NEW DELHI, Aug 30: India’s embattled cricket chiefs Friday received unexpected support from the sport’s world governing body as the sponsorship row headed towards a weekend climax.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) agreed to India’s request to put off Friday’s deadline for naming the Champions Trophy squad till its views had been heard at the ICC’s executive board meeting in Dubai Saturday and Sunday.

India is the only one among the 12 nations taking part in next month’s limited-overs tournament in Sri Lanka not to have finalised the squad after its top players refused to sign the controversial sponsorship agreement.

“The ICC understood it was not possible for us to name our team till the players’ views had been heard,” said a senior official of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“We have been given time till after BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya takes up the matter at the ICC’s executive board meeting.”

Dalmiya will place before the ICC’s executive board a letter sent to the BCCI by captain Sourav Ganguly and signed by the entire team.

The letter says: “With reference to the various discussions that we have been having in the past, let us reiterate that we are committed to play for our country.

The letter again stressed the players’ desire to play in the Champions Trophy without agreeing to the relevant sponsorsip clauses.

BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said India was committed to playing in the tournament even if it was forced to send a second-string team.

Sri Lanka agree to play

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s players have agreed to play in the ICC Champions Trophy next month following a row over sponsorship rights.

A statement from the Sri Lankan board said: “Discussions between the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Cricketers’ Association regarding the participation of Sri Lankan cricketers in the ICC Champions Trophy 2000 were concluded successfully today.

“Accordingly, Sri Lanka will be represented by its full-strength side, barring injuries.” —AFP/Reuters