Progress for Indian cricket endorsements

The President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Jagmohan Dalmiya, says progress has been made between cricketers and officials over the issue of commercial endorsements, although some difficulties still remain.

He was speaking in Calcutta after talks with representatives from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble represented the cricketers at the talks.

The ICC wants cricketers to stop endorsing products other than those of its own sponsors for thirty days before and after next year's World Cup.

Indian players want the ban on endorsements to be restricted to the duration of the tournament itself.

Several top Indian players, including Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, have declined to sign up for the World Cup unless the dispute is resolved.

The issue almost led to the Indian team boycotting the Champions' Trophy in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo in September, but the Indian cricket board brokered a last minute compromise.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service