Lack of consensus delays ICC revamp
An ICC statement claimed that the Board has "unanimously supported" the future structure of the sport's governing body and was confident of a consensus at a "follow-up Board meeting next month." Will N Srinivasan become the next ICC Board chairman?
The International Cricket Council's (ICC) Board has come out in support of the proposals which will give financial and administrative control of the world cricket body to India, England and Australia. However, a consensus on the proposed radical changes is yet to be made as some members are opposed to the power-sharing idea between the "the big three" countries.
An ICC statement claimed that the Board has "unanimously supported" the future structure of the sport's governing body and was confident of a consensus at a "follow-up Board meeting next month."
"This is an important time for world cricket and it is extremely encouraging that the ICC Board has unanimously supported a set of far-reaching principles that will underpin the long-term prosperity of the global game," said ICC president Alan Isaac after the long ICC Board meeting here. (Also read: Asian solidarity under threat as PCB, SL oppose BCCI at ICC Meet)
"There is more work to be done by the members in developing their schedules of bilateral cricket while at the ICC we need to work through the detail of the manner in which these principles will be implemented. Extensive work will now be undertaken in advance of a follow-up Board meeting next month," Isaac added.
The leaked draft paper created a controversy in the lead up to Tuesday's meeting with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Africa opposing the planned overhaul of the ICC.
The officials of these four countries have reportedly said that the matter had not gone to vote and they needed time to study the proposal. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has already written to the ICC, opposing the changes. In a late night development on Tuesday, Cricket South Africa said in a statement that any support to the proposals is subject to approval of the respective Boards of the member countries after which a final decision will be taken at a follow-up ICC Board meeting on February 8. (Read official statement in full here)
According to the ICC statement, the Board supported a host of "principles" in the meeting.
It said that an Indian cricket board (BCCI) official will chair the ICC board from 2014 for a period of two years while a representative from Cricket Australia and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will chair the executive committee and financial and commercial affairs committee respectively.
It was also agreed that three ICC events will take place in the four-year cycle and the Champions Trophy will replace the proposed World Test Championship.
The ICC said that a Test Cricket Fund will be introduced for the Full Members (except BCCI, CA and ECB) to encourage and support the longest format.
It further said that "there will be an opportunity for all members to play all formats of cricket on merit, with participation based on meritocracy; no immunity to any country, and no change to membership status."