The Delhi high court today refused to intervene in the longstanding contracts dispute between the Indian cricketers and the International Cricket Council and the code of conduct for the World Cup 2003, saying it has to be resolved by the parties concerned.

Also Read The contract row - complete coverage

A bench comprising Chief Justice B C Patel and Justice A K Sikri said the public interest petition in this regard has become infructuous as the players were allowed to participate in the World Cup.

The other issues are in the realm of contract and have to be worked out between the parties, the court said, disposing of the petition filed before the World Cup by former cricket board president N K P Salve and former cricketers Kapil Dev and Madan Lal.

The court had on January 22 ordered that no foreign exchange would be released to the ICC if the apex body debarred India from playing in the World Cup or imposed any penalty or damages on the players or the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

But the Supreme Court had on January 31 allowed the sponsors, including LG Electronics India and Hero Honda, to remit foreign exchange for the tournament, subject to the final outcome of the litigation.

The ICC, its marketing arm ICC Development International, and the official sponsors of the Cup had contended that the PIL was ill conceived and the court did not have any jurisdiction in the matter as the dispute was merely a contractual one between private parties.