The new International Cricket Council (ICC) – is it a boon or a curse for cricket?

The changes in the International Cricket Council (ICC) have been announced and the 3 main members now namely India, England and Australia have taken lots of efforts to explain that the changes are in the benefit for one and all. If the definition of “benefit” is more revenues to the 3 members then they are absolutely right. However, the main question to be asked is whether these changes for the benefit of the game?

Let’s look at some of the key changes:

1.  The revenues of the ICC are to be split-up in the ratio of the individual nations revenues generated.

2.  The proposed Test championship has been scrapped. Hence the original form of cricket i.e. Test cricket is being overlooked.

3.  One day Champions Trophy is being revived again. Thanks to India winning the last edition and hence one day championships are better.

4.  The Future Tours Program, which tried to ensure a fair and equitable number of matches for all Test playing nations, has been given a silent burial and in the new system the individual nations have to negotiate with each other.

What will this lead to? The ICC has become a big boys club with the top 3 members as bullies. Firstly, the 3 main members will have a bigger share of the matches to be played. Secondly, the financially weaker nations like West Indies and Bangladesh will get a lesser share of the matches. Thirdly, revenues seem to be main driver for ICC with no efforts being made to promote Test Cricket. Fourthly, no effort is being made to widen the nations playing cricket or to upgrade the standards of the game in the associate members.

In the last 30 years, the only nation which has graduated from a pushover to a world beater is Sri Lanka. Zimbabwe was predicted to make the grade but they have not. Bangladesh, despite Test status, still looks like a club cricket side. For very long we have seen countries like Ireland, Holland, Nepal, Kenya, etc showing flashes of brilliance but couldn`t sustain the momentum.

The changes in the ICC will lead to the following results which is not surprising. The top 3 members, especially BCCI, will get richer. Test Cricket will continue to languish at the present levels, if not worse. The cricket playing countries will remain an exclusive and Commonwealth club. Thankfully as long as it does so, India will be in the top 2 or 3 and we claim to be world class in at least one sport!