ICC attempt to allay Associates fears

ECB, CA chiefs assure support and cooperation to smaller members.


News Desk June 24, 2014

On the opening day of the International Cricket Council (ICC) annual conference in Melbourne, two of the ‘Big Three’ members, England and Australia, offered the Associate and Affiliate members of the body support in developing the game, according to ESPNcricinfo.

The two board heads brushed aside the belief that the new reforms would restrict the participation of the smaller members to ODI and T20 cricket only.

The revolutionary restructuring of the governing body of the game is set to be implemented during the course of the conference with N Srinivasan – the suspended president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) – taking over as chairman of the ICC.

In recent months, reports emanating from different quarters have indicated that the ICC is set to restrict the participation of the lesser members in coveted ODI events like the World Cup.

But, Tim Anderson, the ICC’s head of global development, said that Australia’s Wally Edwards and England’s Giles Clarke have addressed most of the issues the Associates and Affiliates were concerned about.

Anderson feels that the two heads have explained why the reforms were important, and assured the lesser members that the top-performing smaller teams would get their due rewards.

“I think what’s been good for this group today is Edwards and Clarke came in and spoke to them this morning and talked to them about the background of some of the changes,” said Anderson.

“Some of them who were involved in our committees have a broader understanding of what’s been happening, but this has really helped get their head around what’s going on and maybe more why it’s happening.”

Meanwhile, once the new ICC reforms are in place, the top Associate teams will earn up to $112.5 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2014.

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