ICC votes in favour of structural changes despite BCCI’s opposition

Despite vehement opposition from the BCCI representative Vikram Limaye, the international governing body of cricket ICC today voted in favour of a restructured revenue sharing model.

According to highly placed sources, India only got support from Sri Lanka while Zimbabwe abstained when the matter was put to floor test. Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, England and Australia all voted in favour of change in revenue distribution as well as change in governance structure.

The ICC Board today met to discuss the changes pertaining to revenue model where India, England and Australia were supposed to get the major share of revenue as the 'Big Three' -- a move that was opposed by other Test playing nations, and also by England and Australia themselves.

On Saturday, Limaye who had the first look at the official 'base document', expressed his apprehension terming it a model based on "faith and equity".

"I had clearly told BOARD that I cannot support the official base document which is based on faith and equity. The members and chairman were sympathetic that we have just taken charge and I would need time to study the document," Limaye told PTI from Dubai.

"The chairman Mr (Shashank) Manohar said that they have been waiting for months. The matter was put to vote and I have voted against these changes. It has been recorded in the minutes. It won't be appropriate for me to say who all voted in favour," Limaye said.

The ICC will pass the resolution during its April Board meeting.

While the BCCI is expected to still gain more than Rs. 2000 crore, it can be surely said that commercial hub of cricket faced stiff opposition from the majority of the board members.

While seasoned investment banker Limaye in between now and April can spot the anomalies in official base document, it is unlikely that the ICC Board led by Manohar would accept those changes.

The ICC also issued a statement confirming the "in principle" agreement to the constitutional and financial changes to the world body.

The Chief Executives Committee agreed to a consistent use of DRS in all international cricket, including during the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, and to use the review system in World T20s going ahead (one review per side).

A full implementation plan on the use of DRS will be considered by the ICC Cricket Committee in May before approval in June 2017 for roll-out from October 2017.

"Agreement in principle to constitutional and financial change, further progress on future international cricket structures and agreement around the consistent use of DRS were just three of the outcomes of the meetings," the ICC said.

ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar said: "Today was an important step forward for the future of the ICC and cricket around the world. 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.

"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 said.

Regarding 'governance and financial model', the ICC said that "the changes recommended by the ICC Working Group to the constitution and financial model have been passed in principle by the ICC Board with a commitment to consider any further representations from the members and completing the detail by the April ICC Board meeting".

The broader principles that have been agreed include: 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.

Further constitutional changes proposed include: the potential to include additional Full Members (Ireland and Afghanistan subject to both meeting Membership criteria); removal of the affiliate level of membership and so to have only two categories of Full Member and Associate Member; introduction of membership criteria and a Membership Committee established to ensure ongoing compliance; introduction of an
independent female director; equal weight of votes for all Board Members regardless of membership status; all Members to be entitled to attend the AGM.

(With inputs from PTI)