The draft proposal to be discussed at a two-day ICC board meeting in Dubai on January 28-29 calls for more decision making powers for a three strong group. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
Cricket’s power-brokers meet next week amid an apparent threat from India to withdraw from major global events unless there is radical reform of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The draft proposal to be discussed at a two-day ICC board meeting in Dubai on January 28-29 calls for more decision-making powers for a three-strong group of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia (CA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) — who between them represent the game’s wealthiest nations.
The proposals need seven votes from the ICC’s 10 leading nations to pass.
Thursday saw the BCCI’s emergent working committee declare the proposal ‘in the interests of cricket at large’.
Criticism from other boards has so far largely been muted to complaints about a failure to follow procedure.
Both South Africa and Sri Lanka have called for the proposals to be deferred and taken off the table next week.
PCB chairman Ashraf reaches Dubai
As the ‘Big three’ plan to take control of the ICC’s financial and administrative matters, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf has said that he will only do what will be in the best interest of Pakistan.
The three countries have been lobbying for votes in their favour — they will need to secure majority to pass the resolution.
“I’ve been in daily contact with BCCI President Srinivasan about the issue, but I’ll only act in direction which will be in the interest of Pakistan,” Ashraf told reporters in Lahore before his departure to Dubai.
“ECB chairman Giles Clarke has also invited me for a dialogue, but as I said our first priority is the betterment of Pakistan cricket.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (4)
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Its all money related and has nothing to do with the game. We all know BCCI is controlled and dominated by Bookies and ICC is subservient to BCCI.The sifting to Dubai was dubious enough and was motivated by reasons other than Cricket.
BCCI is bluffing in creating a Premier league for Test cricket in order to get a bigger share of funds. Withdraw from global cricket and do what ? If the ICC has the resolve it can ban all non-Indian players from playing in IPL. Without International cricket and no foreign players in IPL, that would be the end of Indian cricket as we know it.
But BCCI has apparent support of Giles Clarke, a man not exactly known for making wise decisions for English cricket. Remember his agreement with Stanford for T20 championship, which turned out to a complete disaster, with players not being paid their dues.
The other Test playing countries could vote this down, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand and West Indies.
In my view, the problem is that there is too much cricket and people have become bored and hence don't want to attend Test matches. Even the Ashes series this year, did not sell out on many days. Reduce the number of matches being played so people actually look forward to the series. And ensure there are results (in Tests) by having good pitches.
I must say that N Srinivasan has turned BCCI from Bully to Monster. I m sure this idea must have been his only.I m sure Australia and England had little to do with it. Now wrt Pakistan he ll propose a bilateral series and Pakistan will support BCCI.