Hussain sides with contract rebels

Nasser Hussain decided to bat for India yesterday as the thorny issue of contracts for the ICC Champions Trophy continued to overshadow the third Test at Headingley.

The England captain confirmed England will be following India's lead in refusing ­ to date along with Australia at least ­ to sign up for the tournament, via contracts which prohibit players agreeing personal deals deemed at odds with the main sponsors. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, along with the highest-profile Australians, are perceived to be most adversely affected by the contracts as they stand.

Despite reports from India that the International Cricket Council is prepared to compromise, the game's governing body insisted it has not back-tracked on the contracts being offered. Hussain, meanwhile, said England's refusal to sign is based on principle, not protecting their own interests. "We are showing solidarity with some very fine cricketers around the world who are having problems at the moment," he said. "It is very easy just to think of yourself and just sign your contracts.

The ICC's spokesman, Brendan McClements, re-inforced the world governing body's position but added he hopes a solution will be found to prevent the controversy escalating.

"We want to make it clear the ICC has in no way backed down over the contracts for the Champions Trophy," he said. "The ICC's focus at the moment is on the Champions Trophy. Discussions relating to the World Cup are a separate issue. We remain optimistic that the boards will be able to reach agreement with their players."

If Hussain's observations are anything to go by, though, it is clear some urgent dialogue needs to take place. "If there are fellow cricketers out there struggling with signing contracts ­ especially pretty good players ­ we must not just think of ourselves at the present but of other people and of England cricketers of the future," Hussain said. "We are the shop floor of international cricket, and those rights must be looked after at all times."

Hussain's team can remain slightly more removed from the situation than India, and he said: "It does not affect our dressing room at the moment, because we have no superstars."