The effect of this decision is that the FTP is binding on all of the members of ICC, including BCCI. Any attempt by a member to amend it unilaterally without the consent of the ICC executive board is invalid.

The chief executives of the Australia and South Africa boards and I will come back with recommendations for a change, if any, to the ICC anti-racism policy during the April 30 meeting.

You will appreciate that BCCI and ICC are on a collision course and that the consequences for world cricket are of great significance.

The ICC requires clean cricket venues free of advertising signage to protect the rights of our sponsors.

For the past three years at least, we've been asked that players be allowed not to comply with their agreements with Zimbabwe, or that cricket not be played in Zimbabwe,

Graeme Smith and Shaun Pollock have been given an enviable number of options to cover all match circumstances.

ICC position has been consistent: we say to governments that we don't take decisions based on political judgments - we expect governments to do that.

But it's a delicate issue and a difficult issue.

The awards provide an opportunity for all players, umpires and teams to be recognized and one of the key strengths of the system we have in place is that this recognition comes from respected voices within the game.

It's something we want to talk to the captains about and the umpires,