According to Mani, the ICC should discuss the Woolf Report with a view to implement its recommendations as soon as possible. PHOTO: ICC
In his note, shared with The Express Tribune, Mani said he had reviewed the draft proposal and analysed that it would adversely affect the sport if it was to come through.
“The authors of the Paper (Board of Control for Cricket in India, England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Australia) benefit significantly in financial terms from their proposals and promote their own self-interests,” noted the former president.
“The directors, president, chief executive and ICC management have had no role and input in the draft.”
Mani observed that the three boards said they will provide greater leadership and stability to the ICC and its Members in return for powers of the ICC Board. However, they failed to demonstrate how they will do this in any meaningful way.
“They plan to make significant financial gains and control the working of the ICC to the exclusion of the other members.”
He noted that the objectives and challenges identified in the paper are not new and can be dealt with by the existing ICC Board.
Proposal ‘fundamentally flawed’
Mani added that the proposal of revenue-sharing that is suggesting more for the three boards ignores the Woolf Report.
“The proposal put forward in the paper is fundamentally flawed.“It assumes that the members have proprietary interest in the money their countries’ economies generate for ICC events.”
He also drew a comparison on the basis of proposed distribution model for 2015-2023 that significantly reduces the amount the Full and Associate & Affiliate Members will receive apart from the BCCI, ECB and CA.
He felt the Associate and Affiliate members would face the biggest loss under the distribution proposed in the Paper and also called for clarity in revenue distribution to ICC regions and the Asian Cricket Council.
“If cricket is to grow and develop around the world, more investment is required in the Associate and Affiliate countries — not less.”
Mani called for the paper to be withdrawn and “referred to an external independent panel to review and comment on”.
The proposal by the ICC Finance and Commercial Affairs (F&CA) Working Group will be presented to the ICC Executive Board during its quarterly meeting in Dubai on January 28 and 29.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (11)
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It is true that India is a power house in world cricket right now and the ICC and other boards have bended backwards to appease the BCCI. Even now the BCCI has thrown peanuts at the PCB saying that they would invited the Pakistani team to India. Now how in the world would that help the PCB and Pakistan except for more money for the BCCI.
If the PCB is going to sign on the draft for reasons every one knows then it should at least try and bring cricket to Pakistan. Get other teams to travel to Pakistan!!!
This should be an eye opener for Pakistani businessmen as well. They should see how money is dictating everything now. If they support Pakistani cricket we may get cricket to come back to Pakistan and we may even get some really good players.
@Disappointed:
I agree that an alternative association of 5~7 Test playing nations will be a much better idea. Yes it will be financially unfeasible but their loss will be minuscule compared to the top three who will soon come to their senses. It wont be long when people get tired of watching the top 3 or 4 teams playing each other repeatedly. Remember Kerry Packer?
Since the top three are earning the most, their loss will also be much greater. If the others can bear short term losses for a couple of years and call the bluff, the conspiracy to monopolize by top three wont be able to take root.
True that the proposed changes will give totally undemocratic, highly lop-sided and dictatorial powers to three countries at the expense of greater and longer interests of other countries like Pakistan BUT nothing could be done now as hindustan has generously offered to play with pakistan in a neutral venue. NOW WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT FOR PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT OR PCB : PAKISTAN'S INTERESTS OR PLAYING WITH HINDUSTAN? of course playing with hindustan (betting is highly lucrative when Pakistan made to lose against hindustan)
These proposals for 'control' of the ICC expose the typical Indian mindset: greedy. grasping and ignorant.
I personally feel BCP, BCP, WICB and CSA should move on and create their own league. Let the big making money board play themselves.
Everybody will be happy and problem resolved.
Love Cricket
@Pathetic comment Mr. Four. You talk about democratic decision making, fine and agreed. You imply about the self respect and independence of other "small boards" that too is legitimate. But, tell me Mr.Four, does the independence and democratic right do come for free? No. Not at all. If the so called small boards want to be really "independent" then they should first learn to live within their own financial limits. Let me give you an example of PCB's "adviser" Mr. Javed Mian Daad's lavish contract with PCB, by which he draws a salary of over Rs 5 million a month. Other officials of the "smaller boards" enjoy a similar kind of salaries and perks which in many cases exceed even BCCI's own officials! Whose money is that Mr. Four? Obviously India's! Directly or indirectly India is providing huge amounts of money to almost all cricket boards around the world by either sponsoring ICC events or playing bilaterally. ICC's 80% earnings do come from India, but when it come to distribution the BCCI have to stand in the queue along with the likes of BCB and PCB all in the name of equality and that too taking snobbish jabs from the thankless people like Ehsan Mani. Before giving moral lessons to India, Mr. Mani should return the fat salary and perks that he received as a president of ICC because that money was provided by the people of India.
cc
It is not big three It is BIG ONE other two will work as assistant to it.
@BCCI
The BCCI should be allowed to be as greedy as it wants -keep its money- but decision making should be a democratic process. One vote for every nation. If it was up to the BCCI all matches would be played on flat tracks to make up for the Indian team's pathetic bowling, at the expensive of other well rounded cricket teams.
Ehsaan who?? Buddy, the so called associate members have been long surviving on Welfare. If they are not able to raise finances even after 60 plus years in order to save the sport in their respective countries, I advise them to stop playing. Why should the Indian public pay for "developing the sport" in countries like Pakistan?
Cheers!!