Complaints forced clamps

Pawar said he had received an "unofficial complaint" about a clause in a contract of one player which provided incentives for more time spent at the crease.

"It is an unofficial complaint and if found to be correct, the system needs to be strengthened. So I have asked the players to submit their copies of old contracts," Pawar told Indian television.

Following the team's World Cup first-round exit, the board placed a ceiling on endorsements, imposing a limit of three sponsorship deals per player and restricting single sponsors to a maximum of two players.

"I have asked some trusted people to look into this," Pawar added. "There will not be an official investigation but we are looking into this."

The clampdown on endorsements had led to further speculation in local media that corporate interest influenced selection policies for the World Cup and that the players and the board are on a collision course.