DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC-A controversial proposal designed to put more power in international cricket in the hands of India, Australia and England has been re-drafted for presentation before the ICC meeting in Dubai tomorrow, reports indicate.
The proposal calling for a complete overhaul of the ICC’s administration and revenue distribution has triggered uproar in the cricket world.
Proposals to be watered down include a two-tier format for Test cricket and the relegation of the bottom two ranked into the ICC Intercontinental Cup, ESPN Cricinfo has reported.
The other proposal which could be reworked pertains to a newly formed Executive Committee (ExCo) and its possible expansion from four to five, with a second nominee coming in from the “small seven,” as opposed to only one according to the draft position paper.
India, Australia and England were lobbying six of the seven members to secure their support should the proposal go to a vote on Tuesday.
Reports from Dubai say India has been leading the talks while the three cricket boards have been making offers to the rest of the boards in a bid to obtain their support.
Cricket South Africa, the only member that has publicly objected to the proposal, has been left out of the discussions and the benefits being offered to the rest of the boards.
There has been public protest in Bangladesh, including a crowd gathering of close to 3000 in Dhaka on Saturday, over the possibility of their cricket board ceding Bangladesh’s Test match status.
“It is a big thing, (to us) this status. In 13 years Bangladesh have managed to win four Test matches. India and New Zealand did not win their first Test till 30 years,” a senior Bangladeshi cricket official was quoted as saying.
“So how come these people are now telling Bangladesh that you will need to fight out in the I-Cup to retain your Test status.”
Zimbabwe Cricket, despite its financial debt to the tune of $18 million dollars is expected to vote in favour of the proposals largely because of their good relations with the BCCI.
Among the other Full Member nations, New Zealand Cricket had come out in support of the proposal while the West Indies Cricket Board only stated that they had taken a position “in the best interests of West Indies cricket”.
