Mani bashes ‘Big Three’ draft
Raises governance issues including lack of transparency, conflict of interest .
According to Mani, the ICC should discuss the Woolf Report with a view to implement its recommendations as soon as possible. PHOTO: ICC
KARACHI:
Former International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani has warned boards against the draft proposal that pushes for dominance of the sport’s governing body by India, Australia and England.
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Mani called for the paper to be withdrawn and “referred to an external independent panel to review and comment on”.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.
Former International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani has warned boards against the draft proposal that pushes for dominance of the sport’s governing body by India, Australia and England.
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.