MUMBAI, Jan. 6: The FICA (Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations) has welcomed the recommendation made by the Lodha committee for the formation of the Indian players’ association.
Speaking exclusively over his mobile from South Africa, the FICA chief Tony Irish says, “FICA welcomes the recommendation of the Lodha Committee that India should have a players association. I think that this will not only be good for the players but also for Indian cricket in general”.
On Monday, the Lodha committee, in its report to the Supreme Court, recommended the names of Mohinder Amarnath, Anil Kumble and Diana Edulji to take initiative and form the players’ association.
According to Irish, it is not mandatory for (Indian) players’ association to become FICA member. However, Irish says, “it is not mandatory that the players association becomes a member of FICA but there would be a lot of advantages to the Indian players working together with their fellow players around the world to ensure that the players have a strong voice in the international game”.
Among all Test playing nations, the players’ associations from Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, West Indies, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are the members of FICA.
Zimbabwe players recently formed its association but it is yet to be fully functional while there have been no players’ voice in India and Pakistan.
