Dravid wants dialogue with BCCI on ''commercial interests''

A day after BCCI passed strictures on Indian cricketers' endorsements and scrapping the graded contract system, skipper Rahul Dravid took up the playres' cause and proposed a ''healthy dialogue'' with the Board.

Stating that there was no conflict of commercial interests between the players and the BCCI, Dravid said the Board and the could sit down to ''crease out the irksome issues and work out a package that can take care of the collective interests and concerns of the BCCI and the players.'' ''The interests of the players' and the BCCI are inclusive and not exclusive. The BCCI has always been very caring and considerate about the players' interests and I am sure that the BCCI would discuss the issue with the players at a suitable time,'' Dravid said in a statement.

He said he had spoken to Bangladesh tour manager Ravi Shastri and a number of the players and ''they all feel that with a healthy dialogue with the board all issues can be sorted out.'' Acting tough against the endorsement culture of the Indian cricketers, the board yesterday directed them not to endorse more than three sponsors/products at a time.

The players were asked to take prior approval of the board before signing any endorsement contract and to submit a copy of the agreement to the Board.

The Board also approved a performance-based payment to the players, besides doing away with the present gradation system of retainership.

Board Working Committee took these decisions after the BCCI took stock of India's World Cup debacle.

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