Players annual contracts likely to be delayed, says secretary Shah

Mumbai, Nov 7 (UNI) The new players' annual contracts are likely to be delayed and are unlikely to be ready to be signed by the Indian players before they depart for South Africa to take part in a five match ODI series there, the Board of Control for Cricket in India stated today.

The BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said today the discussions between the players and the board are on and ''it is unlikely that the contracts would be ready before the Indian team leaves for South Africa (on November 13),'' Mr Shah said.

The annual contracts for the players starts from October 1 to September 30.

''The clauses have to be agreed upon by the players before the committee meets to grade them,'' he said.

The gradation committee consists of the BCCI President Sharad Pawar, Mr Shah, Selection Committee Chairman Dilip Vengsarkar and coach Greg Chappell.

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