from The Star September 03, 2002 (thanks Jenny)
Shaun Pollock will lead South Africa's first-choice team to the ICC Champions
Trophy in Sri Lanka next week.
This is a direct result of a deal negotiated between United Cricket Board chief executive
Gerald Majola and his SA Players association counterpart, Tony Irish, on Tuesday.
"I am pleased to confirm that South Africa will send the best available team to the
tournament and that the players have agreed to sign the player terms agreements,"
Majola said.
Irish clarified the issue, saying the South African players were on board on the same
basis as players from Australia, England and other countries that have struck similar
deals.
'The players will not suffer any financial losses'
"The players wanted an assurance from the International Cricket Council that what has
happened here will never happen again."
Irish was at pains to stress that the players were not after a "fast buck".
"They have been dumped in a situation that was beyond their control because they had
existing sponsorship contracts that clashed with the ICC contracts.
"I am happy to say that the players will not suffer any financial losses, thanks to
the agreement we have reached with the UCB. There are still ongoing issues to be discussed
with regard to the World Cup, but we have time on our side to sort that out well in
advance."
Irish also heaped praise on Majola for his role in the negotiations.
"Gerald has been very constructive and positive throughout the negotiations. He
clearly has the interests of cricket and cricketers at heart and there is a very good
relationship between the two bodies."
South Africa start their campaign against the West Indies next Thursday.