The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will have its task cut out as it pushes for the lion’s share of revenue from ICC’s earnings along with cricket boards from England and Australia at the two-day executive board meeting of the governing body here on Tuesday.
The BCCI has already made it clear that its participation in future ICC events (50 and 20-over World Cups) would be decided subject to approval of the ‘Position Paper’.
As per ICC rules, seven of the 10 Board members (Test-playing nations) need to approve the controversial proposal, but Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have already publicly expressed their dissatisfaction with the contents of the ‘Position Paper’.
It is reported that the BCCI also wants an ICC event every two years in India and also wants to overrule the ICC’s FTP (Future Tours & Programme) by engaging in direct discussions with respective cricket boards for bilateral series.
There will also be discussions on creating a post of ICC chairman, which will rotate among the BCCI, CA and ECB, with N. Srinivasan being the favourite to become the first chairman. It could effectively turn the ICC president into a virtual rubber-stamp.
According to BCCI sources, its president Srinivasan has already promised the members of his affiliated units, a bigger grant if the BCCI happens to get the lion’s share.
On Tuesday, the focus will solely be on the proposal of the ‘Big Three’ — India (BCCI), Australia (CA) and England (ECB) — when they officially table their bid to take over world cricket.
Stiff opposition Miffed with the changes being proposed in the ICC’s administrative structure, ex-ICC officials Malcolm Gray, Malcolm Speed and Sir John Anderson, former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, former South African board supremo Ali Bacher along with former Pakistan Cricket Board presidents Shahryar Khan, Lt. Gen. (retd.) Tauqir Zia, and former ICC chief Ehsan Mani have already expressed their displeasure and opposed it.
But, most of the member boards haven’t yet made their stance clear. There have, however, been some indications that they might resist the takeover bid.
The ICC Board consists of the chairman or president from each of the 10 full members, plus three elected associate member representatives. The ICC president, who chairs proceedings, the ICC chief executive and the ICC vice-president will also be present at the crucial meeting.
