ICC Future Tours Programme to see light in June meeting

Members to sign agreement after ‘Big Three’ ascension.

KARACHI:

The eager anticipation and speculations of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Member Boards about the Future Tours Programme (FTP) will be put to rest in the second week of June.

As the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia (CA) and the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) prepare to take over the reins of the ICC, the boards are gearing up to get a glimpse at the eight-year FTP in the June 11-12 meeting.

“Finalisation of the FTP will take place in the ICC meeting, which will be held on June 11-12,” a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official told The Express Tribune.

The ‘Big Three’ are all set to take charge of the ICC’s administrative and financial affairs, which will be formally approved in the board’s meeting to be held by the end of June.

It should be mentioned here that the final picture of the FTP will be presented to the members, but they can only sign it after the draft agreement on the take-over of the ‘Big Three’ is presented for approval.

The ICC board had earlier authorised drawing up the necessary constitutional amendments, which will be placed before the Full Council at the Annual Conference scheduled to take place in Melbourne at the end of June.

The PCB has claimed that it had agreed to the ICC revamp only on the condition that it would get bilateral series with all members from 2015-2023.

There were reports and fears that the ongoing tug-of-war for the PCB chairmanship could derail the process of finalising the FTP, which holds immense importance as it will allow all the boards to determine the direction they will follow for the next eight years, as well as the financial gains they could receive from it.

“The ICC is preparing a draft agreement for the proposed changes in the governing body to be approved by all members,” added the official. “Binding agreements will be signed after the ICC board meeting in Melbourne by the end of June, and the process will be concluded by September.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2014.

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