ICC meets in Singapore today to approve revamp plan
The Bangladesh Cricket Board is expected to make sure that they are well covered in the revised proposals for the restructure of the International Cricket Council when it is put to a vote during an ICC meeting in Singapore today, a BCB official said on Friday.
The BCB is unlikely to join the cricket boards of South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in rejecting the proposal made by the ‘Big Three’ of India, England and Australia, who are bidding to increase their control of the ICC’s revenue and power structure.
Rather, the BCB is focused on gaining assurances that their Test status will not be revoked and that they will get more international matches.
‘We are focussing only on our priorities,’ BCB media committee chairman Jalal Yunus told New Age.
‘We must make sure that there is no two- tier Test format,’ said Jalal, referring to a proposed system that would automatically put the number nine and ten teams in the ICC rankings outside the group of eight Test playing nations.
It is also thought that the revamp plan would give the BCB the opportunity to earn up to $68 million per year, up from the $35 million per year it is currently slated to bring in.
The controversial restructuring of the ICC, which would cede executive decision-making to India, Australia and England, requires the consent of eight of the ten member boards, and it remains to be seen whether the dissenting boards will remain adamant or will finally agree to the changes.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa have refused to back the plan, stating that it only makes the ‘Big Three’ more powerful.
However, the boards could relent if they are offered some lucrative tour assurances in the bargain.
BCCI President N Srinivasan has defended the proposal, stating that a strong India would be good for world cricket and that efforts were ongoing to get a consensus among ICC members.
During the ICC meeting in Dubai last month, a final decision on the proposal was deferred due to a lack of unanimity among the member boards.
At the Dubai meeting, the BCCI’s status as the most influential cricketing body in the world was acknowledged, with the bulk of its demands getting passed.
Though the BCCI’s demand for immunity for the ‘Big Three’ in a two-tier Test format was ruled out, they had their way in deciding the exclusive bi-lateral series agreements from 2015-2023.
The revamp plan focuses on the establishment of an Executive Committee (ExCo) and Financial and Commercial Affairs Committee (F&CA) to provide leadership at an operational level, with five members, including BCCI, Cricket Australia and England and Wales Cricket Board representatives.
However, all of the BCB directors are not aware about the situation prevailing in the ICC after the Dubai meeting as BCB boss Nazmul Hasan did not feel the need to formally update them on the proceedings at the summit.
‘I have yet to get a clear picture regarding where we stand at the moment,’ said former vice-president and veteran cricket organiser Sazzadul Alam.
‘As I am in dark it is difficult to make any assumptions,’ he added.
-With New Age input
