Isaac reveals he asked ‘Big Three’ to draft position paper

ICC president ‘disappointed’ at leakage of document in media.

International Cricket Council (ICC) President Alan Isaac has claimed that he had asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia (CA) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to draft a plan for the future of the game.

According to an ICC press release, Isaac expressed his disappointment with the misconceptions that had been created as a result of a draft position paper produced by the three ICC Members being leaked.

“Several months ago I encouraged BCCI, CA and ECB to enter into a constructive dialogue together to help resolve some of the key commercial and governance issues facing the game,” he said.

“These leading cricket nations have worked tirelessly to produce a document which provided the basis for the past few weeks of extremely constructive discussions.

“It is obviously very disappointing that a draft position paper from these members was leaked, as this prompted a debate that ignored the ongoing negotiations between all members and led to unwarranted criticism of many of those involved in the process.”

The head of the governing body of the game, which was under intense media scrutiny leading up to the Executive Board’s meeting in Dubai, added that a consensus about the future administration of the game was a primary goal of the body.

“The principles agreed today [Tuesday] provide clear evidence that through the course of further discussions over the coming weeks we can be increasingly confident in achieving consensus.”

Earlier, media reports suggested that the ICC head was kept in the dark about the plan drafted by the BCCI, ECB and CA.

‘Efforts made to streamline cricket affairs’

Former South Africa Test player and ICC Chief Executive David Richardson added that all the concerned people had made a big effort in streamlining cricket affairs.

“An enormous amount of effort has gone into developing a comprehensive set of proposals that include input from all members,” he said.

“The Board has held some very constructive, inclusive, wide-ranging and far-reaching discussions and I am looking forward to bringing to fruition some of the principles that have been proposed and accepted in relation to the cricketing structures of the global game.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2014.

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