Want to keep own interests in proportion to game's development: BCCI

A week after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sent a response to the International Cricket Council (ICC), discussing concerns over the new constitution, the Indian board struck a measured tone on how it will handle future discussions on this matter. The Committee of Administrators (COA) who currently run the BCCI, addressed the media on Wednesday and said that it would like to balance its interests while developing cricket globally.

Alongside Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), BCCI had also objected against the draft constitution, which was passed by seven Full Members at an ICC Board meeting in February. Disagreement arose over the reduction in the BCCI’s revenues from ICC events, but, as BCCI’s email, earlier this week said, there are other areas of concern as well, including the role of the ICC chairman.

“There’s a fine balance between being democratic, getting enough revenues, what we deserve, and at the same time contributing to world cricket,” Vinod Rai, the CoA chairman, said in Delhi. “We will get what we deserve, but it’s a decision we will take to contribute to help other nations at a lesser level as far as cricket is concerned.”

According to Rai, bigger member countries such as India should take responsibility of contributing to the growth of Associate teams Afghanistan and Ireland – new constitution says both countries are moving to play Test cricket and ICC has saved a large sum of revenues for each. However, that should not hamper BCCI’s financial interests.

“We’ll contribute to upgrading cricket skills in those nations. I’m not getting into specifics. The issues are two-fold. You spoke of democracy and revenues. We have to bring about a balance. You can’t sacrifice your interests to help someone else.” Rai added.

BCCI’s Chief Executive Officer, Rahul Johri, signed the reply to the ICC, but it had been written in consultation with the four-member CoA. The reply backed the stance taken by Vikram Limaye, also a member of the CoA.