The media release explained it was a decision made “in the best interest of West Indies cricket.”
Yet the regional governing body’s wholehearted support of the proposal by Australia, India and England (the Big Three) to take over world cricket, could result in an enormous backlash.
Once again questionable decision making has potentially left the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) tethering on the edge of a deeper hole than those dug over the years though inept governance.
This time around the WICB has based its support for the world’s highest money earning countries in the sport – India, Australia and England, to assume administrative control of the sport, solely on promises.
It is a major risk for a small – economy nation of once successful teams, now ranked among the world’s worst, to expect benefits from the Big Three after they would have been given the wholesale authority to make more money for themselves.
That is what the right to determine the scheduling of international series, distribution of funding to member nations and every other aspect of this bizarre proposal, primarily amounts to.
The democratic elected independent body everyone knows as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has become one of the world’s worst governed international organizations, because of its spineless capitulation to the demands of India among its other shortcomings. Now that country, aided by dollar-signs motivated England and Australia, wants to confirm its domination.
In return for its support of this proposal, the Regional Board explained that it is projected that it will attain a 100 percent increase in revenue earnings over the next eight-year period 2015-23, than it makes presently, on agreements it has with the three countries for home and away tours.
A planned Test Match Fund, another component of the ‘Big Three’ proposal promises to land the WICB significant sums, which it stated will make up for having to stage revenue losing series involving small economy nations.
On the surface these promises seem sweet, but could eventually be mere bait, leading to telling consequences, simply because they are only promises.
Nowhere in the WICB press release did it state it was in possession of signed agreements from the ‘Big Three’.
Given its cavalier approach, based on an embarrassing track record on business deals, it is more likely than not, that those agreements for the bilateral tours with India, Australia and England, which comprise the bulk of the 100 percent projected increased revenue streams, are mere verbal promises.
Search as diligently as you could, there is nothing binding the three countries to a set amount of tours per year or otherwise, in the release. Thus, the WICB has placed itself in jeopardy of being taken for a ride on empty promises.
In reality, the under-achieving West Indies Test and limited overs teams are not attracting interest among cricket followers overseas.
Tours to those countries in recent times have been severely truncated especially to Australia and England. It is a far cry from the times when as world champions, The West Indies were given automatic five-Test series around the world.
Depressingly, their last tour ‘Down Under’ was devoid of Tests.
So what will compel those countries to revert back to staging money losing West Indies tours?
India, which will surely be the controlling influence on the new Executive Council, is not known as having a board respectful of principles, when its interests are at stake.
It’s recent blatant flouting of the format and dates for the Future Tours Programme (FTP) series against South Africa to accommodate a farewell home series for star performer Sachin Tendukar with the West Indies is one example.
The country’s refusal to accept the Decision Review System (DRS) used by every other nation is another.
And without having to think twice, one can envisage the India Premier League (IPL) T20 competition dominating the international calendar whether or not it is detrimental to every other country.
Even if India and the others agree to honour their promise to tour West Indies, who is to know whether those teams might not comprise second string squads, while the best players are engaged or being rested to engage, in more profitable match-ups among themselves?
Such could be the case as the new proposal will allow the ‘Big Three’ to pick and chose the series they will play, as much as they like and whenever they like.
As for the Test Match Fund, indications are it will only be a reality based on one important condition.
Writing in the Bleacher Report, Freddie Wilde disclosed that the ICC revenue will have to exceed US $$2.25 billion, more than US$750,000 than it achieved last year, before any country could benefit.
As a result, if the regional body is zapped on the promises, who will they turn to for justice?
India, England and Australia, surely will not penalize themselves as they will be the sole decision makers of the sport.
Such are the dangers of having one or a few countries governing a sport of global dimensions.
Self interest will be paramount to the countries in control and nothing will come between India in its quest to add to its bulging bank account, along with the others.
In an ideal world of capable WICB management of its gifted players, West Indies teams could have been among the world’s best, and making good dollars from full tours to those said big economy countries.
The regional team should have been the team attracting sold out crowds in Australia that were evident in the just concluded Ashes and limited overs series. Similarly that could have been the case touring England and India not to mention the mega sponsorship bucks to be had from successful West Indies teams, moreso with them being labeled the world’s most attractive.
Instead, the WICB feels comfortable aiding in the degradation of the sport’s integrity and further damaging its own, in an attempt to make money it should have earned otherwise when it chose to support the radical proposal.
Who should be surprised though? The regional ruling body has been hurt many times falling down slippery slopes due to acts of incompetence.
This potential slide could create similar consequences.
