ICC set to overturn Big-Three BCCI continues opposition

In a major decision that will hit the revenue of the three biggest cricket associations in the world Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia (CA) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) the International Cricket Council (ICC) has accepted the changes in the models of finance and governance. But that was not without the opposition of the BCCI; IDFC MD & CEO Vikram Limaye a member of the new Administrative committee of the Indian board represented them in the meeting took a stand against the decision.

ICC has given the members some time until April 2017 to come up with suggestions on the implementation and the final decision will be made in the meeting in April. BCCI certainly isn’t willing to let the Big 3 formula be abolished so easily and soon after the conclusion of the meeting released a statement expressing their reservation for any such change in the rules.

The BCCI media release stated: “The BCCI representative, Mr. Vikram Limaye expressed his concern over both the documents especially in light of the insufficient time available to the Hon’ble Supreme Court appointed Committee of administrators to take an informed view on the said proposal, and also there being no scientific basis behind the percentage distribution allocation that was being proposed other than “good faith and equity”.

As per the existing monetary distribution the Indian board gets 21% share of the total revenue while with the revised proposal it might drop down to 14% which will severely hit the BCCI.

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“A revised financial distribution ensuring a more equitable distribution of revenues. A revised constitution to reflect good governance, expanding and clarifying of the roles and objectives of the ICC to provide leadership in international cricket.”

ICC chairman Shashank Manohar who is a former BCCI chief wants the new system to be brought into place since it works on “Equity, Good conscience, Common sense and simplicity, Enabling every Member to grow, Revenue generated by Members, Greater transparency, Recognition of interdependency amongst Members, that cricket playing nations each other and the more strong nations the better for the sport.”

“The proposals from the working group to reverse the resolutions of 2014 and deliver a revised constitution and financial model were accepted by the ICC Board and now we will work collectively to refine the detail for final sign off in April. This also allows the new BCCI leadership appropriate time to appraise the detail and contribute,” Manohar said.

“I want the ICC to be reasonable and fair in our approach to all 105 Members and the revised constitution and financial model does that. There are still details to work through and concerns to be addressed, but the principle of change is agreed and not for debate,” he added.