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Big Three (Australia, England & India) could control revamped ICC

DC_fan

Coach
Messages
11,980
The ICC is to consider a comprehensive structural overhaul of world cricket administration that will effectively cede most executive decision-making to the BCCI, Cricket Australia and the ECB. A draft proposal on these lines will be presented to the ICC Executive Board during its quarterly meeting in Dubai on January 28 and 29.

The proposal, drafted by a "working group" of the ICC's Finance & Commercial Affairs (F&CA) committee - in which the BCCI, CA and ECB are key members - recommends wide-ranging changes in the ICC's revenue distribution model, administrative structures and the Future Tours Programme (FTP), questions the relevance of Test rankings and suggests the reinstatement of the Champions Trophy over the World Test Championship.

And almost every recommendation of the "position paper" gives a larger share of control over world cricket to the Australian, English and Indian cricket boards - both in the boardroom and on the field. It also gives them a larger share of revenues, in a ratio that is linked to the ICC's revenue growth.

The ICC says these radical proposals await response from and the approval of member boards. The document does, however, contain an April deadline for the formation of the ICC Business Co (IBC) - a newly formed business arm which will be set up to replace the existing IDI (ICC Development International) - in order to take over the task of issuing tenders for the ICC's next media rights and sponsorship cycle.

The proposal recommends creating a four-member group called the Executive Committee (ExCo) between ICC committees and the Executive Board, which consists of the heads of national boards. The ExCo, the proposal recommends, will include three permanent representatives from CA, ECB and BCCI, who will share an annual rotating chairmanship. A fourth member of the ExCo will be nominated by the ICC's Executive Board and come from the seven other Full Member nations. The ExCo, if created according to the draft, will become "the sole recommendation committee … on all constitutional, personnel, integrity, ethics, development and nominations matters."

When detailing Test match promotion and relegation, the document states that "relegation exceptions" will apply to India, England and Australia. This is "solely in order to protect ICC income due to the importance of those markets and teams to prospective ICC media rights buyers."

This document was made available to the ICC member nations in Dubai on January 9, as part of a special meeting called in addition to the normal ICC Board meetings held every three months. There is a possibility that the proposal could be even be brought to vote as early as the January meeting even though the ICC, which offered no formal statement, indicated that the document was a only working paper that awaited both response and approval from the Board.

There had been a buzz among member nations that these proposals were being worked on between BCCI, CA and the ECB over the past six months but the first that other member nations saw of it was the document on January 9. A representative of a Full Member board outside the BCCI-CA-ECB triad said the proposals were a radical return to the old "veto system" in which England and Australia controlled all decision-making. The newest, richest and, therefore, most influential entrant into this club of power is the BCCI.

"They are attaching the right of a country to rule the cricket world to its economic strength", this official said. The proposal by the BCCI, CA and the ECB to exempt themselves from relegation was, he said, contradictory: "On one side, they say they are following meritocracy. But then they base promotion and relegation on financial strength."

At an administrative level, the recently-created post of ICC chairman, (meant to reduce the powers of the president and be given to the "the best man for the job") will, according to the new proposal, become an annual rotation between "one of the nominees of the ECB, CA or the BCCI." Similarly, the BCCI-CA-ECB will nominate the annual chairman of the Finance & Commercial committee, thus nominating their own candidates in three key ICC positions: the head of the ExCo, the F&CA committee and the chairmanship of the ICC. The ICC chairman will not head other major committees of the ICC, its F&CA committee or the IBC, the commercial arm of the ICC.

The proposal states that the IBC is to be "established immediately" in order to take charge of the next cycle of ICC media and sponsorship rights from 2015-2023. The immediacy being referred to is the ICC Board meeting of April 2014.

The bulk of the "position paper" comprises a section focusing on a 'distribution model' of ICC revenues. The ICC's current funding model distributes surplus revenues equally among Full Members and, in smaller proportions, to its Associate and Affiliate members. This, the proposal says, "does not recognise the contribution of individual members" and provides for a "distorted distribution model that undermines self-sufficiency." The "value contribution" of India is listed as "over 80%" with the other Full Members' contribution ranging between "0.1% to 5%." The proposal says: "If ICC funds were entirely allocated on the basis of where they came from, all Members bar two would suffer a seriously damaging reduction in their funding," a position "not favoured by BCCI, the ECB or CA."

To redress the "distorted distribution model", the new model recommends the creation of a "contribution cost" as recognition for every member's role in "contributing to generating ICC's revenues required to sustain the game." An estimate of the percentage break-up of "contribution costs" to the entire ICC revenue has been "worked on and negotiated by" the BCCI, the ECB and CA; this accords the three boards greater shares of the ICC's revenues as they increase. At the current rights-cycle revenue levels of $1.5 billion, for example, the BCCI's share would be 4.2%; should the new rights cycle gross revenue cross $3.5 billion, the BCCI's share will be 21% - a total of $766 million.

The BCCI-CA-ECB have also recommended the formation of a "standing team" of representatives from each of the Boards who have a mandate to look at "every element of each ICC event and event costs" and will regularly report to the F&CA committee.

The ICC's finance and commercial affairs committee, whose working group has put together these proposals, comprises the following: Giles Clarke (chairman, ECB), Alan Isaac (ICC president), Dave Richardson (chief executive), N Srinivasan (BCCI), Neil Speight (Associate and Affiliate member/ Bermuda Cricket Board), Wally Edwards (CA), Dave Cameron (WICB), with Campbell Jamieson (GM, commercial) and Faisal Hasnain (CFO).

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/710723.html
 

DC_fan

Coach
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11,980
So the Indians, poms and us Aussies want to take over world cricket. I wonder what the other countries think of that.

Could we see the Ashes being played for every 2 or 3 years?
 
Messages
14,701
I have no problem with it . India, England and Sth Africa is where it is at for mine, with SL in the mix. NZ should be stronger than they are. WI and Pakistan have their problems which would be great if they could overcome and I don't get excited by Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

India, England and Australia are where the crowds, TV and merch is at. Anyone who says it isn't is deluding themselves.

As posted elsewhere, I'd get happy for a 4 year cycle of 5 tests series vs Sth Africa, England and India, and the others making up the fourth summer in some combos and winter cricket.
 

Timbo

Moderator
Staff member
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20,281
Relegation exceptions? So three of the ten countries would permanently be in division one regardless of form?

I don't know. I mean we barely play anyone other than England and India as it is. This would just make it worse.
 

shiznit

Coach
Messages
14,793
I don't get it... I thought the idea was trying to get the likes Ireland up to the level where they can play test cricket.

Now they are pretty much downgrading already competent test playing nations like NZ, WI, PAK, SL etc...
 
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jargan83

Coach
Messages
14,929
Don't know if anyone has seen this yet, if so apologies!

AUSTRALIA's plan to seize joint-control of world cricket today has cleared one potential road block with the West Indies reluctantly surrendering to the coup.

Australia, India and England have formed an controversial alliance which will attempt to hijack control of the International Cricket Council at a meeting in Dubai today and tomorrow.

The Big Three need seven out of 10 votes to pass a resolution which would see them become the sports' new power brokers.

India are the prime movers in the coup.

They generate 80% of world cricket's income and want a greater share of revenue.

Australia and England will also gain greater riches if the plan is passed.

The West Indies, despite deep-seated opposition to the radical proposal, have reportedly gone to water behind closed doors and will vote for the proposal which many officials sense could be passed in some form or sent back for further refinement.

The West Indies are in a parlous financial state and cannot risk falling out of favour with India.

Their relationship with India improved substantially when they recently agreed to tour India at short notice to allow Sachin Tendulkar to play his 200th and final Test on home soil and they are not brave or financial enough to put that relationship at risk by voting against a proposal which has created outrage in pockets of the cricket world.

This is despite strong opposition to the coup by Clive Lloyd, one of their most famous and decorated captains.

Pakistan's former ICC president Ehsan Mani has claimed that if passed, the new system would take around $312 million in potential earnings from smaller nations to essentially line the pockets of India, Australia and England.

Former South African cricket boss Ali Bacher claims the plan, if approved will tear the game apart, while Australia's Malcolm Speed and Malcolm Gray, former ICC supremos, have also spoken out about their objection to it.

The last time such a plan was mooted was in the mid-1990s when the Australian, English, New Zealand and West Indies boards formed a top secret alliance called Project Snow.

They had become concerned over the high level of power gained by Asian block nations and the significant support they were getting from Zimbabwe and South Africa.

They four nations plotted to form a breakaway league but the plan never came to fruition.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricke...es-back-the-plan/story-fndpt0dy-1226811475116
 

jargan83

Coach
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14,929
I hope the other voters show some spine and shoot this proposal down but I'm not holding my breath when BCCI can dangle a cheque in front of nations or threaten their financial state if they don't vote for it.
 

Pete Cash

Post Whore
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62,156
From all reports Bangladesh looks like they will back it (and thus doom the country to no test cricket)
 

Red Bear

Referee
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20,882
I'm really not sure why the poms and us are siding with India
Self Interest. Ensure they maintain a high level of power in the way the game is run.

India's revenue would drop if Australia/England stood up to them, other touring sides don't generate the same level of interest. By siding with them it really looks like the whole of cricket will be run by three, self interested governing bodies.
 

hineyrulz

Post Whore
Messages
152,570
Self Interest. Ensure they maintain a high level of power in the way the game is run.

India's revenue would drop if Australia/England stood up to them, other touring sides don't generate the same level of interest. By siding with them it really looks like the whole of cricket will be run by three, self interested governing bodies.
Pretty much this, think if it goes ahead it will be terrible for test and world cricket. But hey at least the 3 wealthiest countries will be ok :?
 

Diesel

Referee
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23,402
Imagine each summer India & England will tour here and Australia will tour India and England during winter ...yawn.
 
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14,819
How does this benefit the game as a whole?

This will ensure that teams like WI, NZ, Pakistan, SL & Bangladesh will never be able to compete.
 

Timbo

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Staff member
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20,281
There needs to be a clearly defined structure to make sure the rest of the world doesn't get left behind. I'd be willing to allow it to go through, with a list of conditions, such as:

1. The FTP to be scrapped, replaced by a commitment of each nation to play a home and away series against each of the other ten nations, comprising of a minimum of 3 tests and 5 LO matches – proposed series 3 Tests, 3 ODIs and 2 T20Is in a seven year period. Boards are free to negotiate a longer series of so desired, and may play as many extra series as they wish inside of this seven year period. Severe penalties must be legally binding for any side that does not comply with this regulation.
2. The two-tier system to not be implemented, but Ireland to be admitted as a full member within 18 months in order to give sides like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe an additional option to play against – and a CLEAR pathway for Afghanistan to be tabled for the same purpose.
3. On the admission of both Ireland and Afghanistan as full members, the cycle of mandatory home and away series to be increased to eight years from seven.
4. The proposed World Test Championship to be shelved indefinitely until such a time as it is commercially viable. The ICC Champions Trophy to be re-instated to fill the gap.
5. India to be awarded one out of four ICC events (World Cup, World T20, Champions Trophy) as recognition of the amount of money they generate for the game.
6. A fair and equitable revenue-sharing system to be generated in order that sides like New Zealand, The West Indies, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan are better able to develop their elite players and to end issues such as the strikes which have all but ruined this seasons Zimbabwean FC competition.


The reality of the situation is, something will have to be given to India, and it'll have to be something big. All I could come up with was a promise of a certain percentage of ICC events (they want one in three, but I think one in four would be fair) or a dedicated window for IPL. I'd prefer the former rather than the latter, at least it benefits everyone.
 

Red Bear

Referee
Messages
20,882
I think a dedicated IPL window is perfectly reasonable and would strengthen international cricket. No longer would players from poorer nations have to choose between making a living and playing for their country. Done in April May it would probably have least effect on home summers for most nations.
 

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