The International Cricket Council on Thursday announced the details of the decisions taken at the five-day long Board and committee meetings. Following the conclusion of the Board meeting on Wednesday, India, the main revenue source-cum-earner, found itself isolated on all counts.
With the Big Three revenue models undone by current ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar with the backing of majority ICC members, the revenue distribution for the cycle 2016-2023, based on current forecasted revenues and costs will see Board of Control for Cricket in India get the largest share—$293m across the eight year cycle. This does not include the additional 100 million offered to BCCI which was declined by the latter.
England Cricket Board will receive $143m, Zimbabwe Cricket $94m and the remaining seven full members will receive $132m each. Associate members will receive funding of $280m. This model was passed 13 votes to 1.
Further constitutional changes proposed include a possibility to enlarge the full member base and altering of the voting pattern, which could drastically change the dynamics for India within ICC in future.
India's only positive vote was regarding inclusion of cricket in Olympics. Till now, BCCI had steadfastly opposed the idea. “Noting the BCCI’s commitment to reconsidering the matter in the near future, the Chief Executives’ Committee reconfirmed its support for cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics,” said the ICC.
After the conclusion of the board meeting, ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar said: “This is another step forward for world cricket and I look forward to concluding the work at the annual conference. I am confident we can provide a strong foundation for the sport to grow and improve globally in the future through the adoption of the revised financial model and governance structure.”
It was a full week with Chief Executives’ Committee, Development Committee, Audit Committee, Financial and Commercial Affairs Committee and Women’s Committee and Forum holding their meetings. Decisions were taken to introduce a post of deputy chairman, to be held by one of the existing Directors of the ICC board, and add a woman director on the board.
In a statement issued on Thursday morning by the ICC stated, “The Board appointed a working group, which proposed that the model be continued to be guided by the following principles: equity, good conscience, common sense and simplicity, enabling every member to grow, revenue generated by members, greater transparency and recognition of interdependency amongst members, that cricket playing nations need each other and the more strong nations there are, the better for the sport.”
A revised constitution was also approved by 12 votes to 2. The two who opposed were India and Sri Lanka. The constitutional changes include: the potential to include additional full members in the future subject to meeting membership criteria; removal of the affiliate level of membership—so only two categories: full member and associate member; the introduction of an independent female director; the introduction of membership criteria and a membership committee established to consider membership applications ; the introduction of a deputy chairman of the Board who will be a sitting director elected by the Board to stand in for the chairman in the event that he or she is unable to fulfil their duties; equal weight of votes for all board members regardless of membership status; all members to be entitled to attend the AGM.
On cricketing matters, the ICC Board noted the collective will to resolve the current calendar congestion in order to bring a clear framework to all three formats. This was after an increasing demand by each country to find a window for a domestic Twenty20 league.
On resumption of international cricket in Pakistan, the ICC Board has considered an update following the ICC delegation to the PSL final in Lahore. “The feasibility of further matches in Pakistan involving a World XI is now being considered from a security and budget perspective,” the ICC stated.
On women's cricket, decision was taken that the eight top ranked ODI teams will be required to play a fixed set of three ODI fixtures against each of the other teams. A separate ranking system for Women’s ODI and T20I cricket will be developed with the latter being fully inclusive of all international teams playing that format. ICC allowed use of DRS in bilateral events in women's cricket, subject to host member agreeing to it. Allowing consideration of a report on ICC activities in China, the Board agreed to the development of a detailed China Growth Strategy for consideration by the ICC Board in June in consultation with the Asian Cricket Council and Hong Kong Cricket Association.
