Nearly
3 years ago, BCCI (Indian Cricket Board) along with ECB (English Cricket Board)
and CA (Australian Cricket Board) had made a plan for ICC’s revenue sharing and
this was called “Big Three” Financial model. But this week, ICC member has
voted for a new revenue sharing model despite opposition by BCCI. BCCI lost the
vote by 9-1 margin. It’s the perhaps biggest setback to BCCI in decades when it
broke the monopoly of white nations on ICC.
Note – Image
taken from ESPN Cricinfo website
Just
look at the revenue loss for BCCI. BCCI was scheduled to get 570 million and
now it will get 293 million. ICC has offered extra 100 million to BCCI. But
still the net loss to Indian Cricket board is 177 million US dollars (1136 cr
INR as of today). The negotiation is still going on and it seems that ICC along
with other cricket boards have turned the table on BCCI. Remember 78% of
worldwide cricket revenue comes from India and ICC cannot and must not ignore
Indian cricket. I hope that ICC & BCCI will solve the matter soon otherwise
the upcoming Champions Trophy may be played without India.
ICC is
taking advantage of leaderless BCCI. Supreme Court had removed BCCI head Anurag
Thakur in Jan 2017 and nominated a four-member panel Committee of
Administrators (Vinod Rai, Ramachandra Guha, Vikaram Limaye and Diana Edulji)
to look after the administration of the BCCI in order to implement Lodha
committee reforms. Incidentally the current ICC chief is a former BCCI boss
Shashank Manohar and it seems that Mr. Mahohar is clearly taking some kind of
revenge from current BCCI officials. When Manohar was elected ICC head,
everyone hoped that he would take-up BCCI’s case in ICC. But it seems that he
is playing a hard bargain game than an Australian or an English guy would have
played. But BCCI should stay firm in negotiation. The loss of revenue may be
devastating for Indian Cricket.
BCCI
is mulling to pull out of upcoming Champions Trophy. It must pull out the
tournament. ICC can’t bully India and all other boards can’t ignore India
completely. Apart from ICC revenue, bilateral series with India is one of the
biggest revenue source for all other crick boards. Suppose if India pulls out
and broadcasters like Star Sports demand refund from ICC then ICC may be in
trouble. So, BBCI still have a few bargaining cards left. It seems that BCCI
may agree to participate in the new revenue sharing agreement if it is offered somewhere
around 450 million USD.
But we
must look into the affairs of BCCI. Even though there has been many charges of mismanagement
but still BCCI is the best governed sports body in India. Of late, Supreme Court
has intervened in BCCI affairs. It is good that the affairs of BCCI is getting streamlined
but Indian cricket must not suffer. It is time for elect a new president for
BCCI so that ICC can no longer take care of advantage of headless BCCI. If
India pulls out of Champions trophy, there can be a mini IPL in September. BCCI
must not agree on 390 million USD as it will be a huge blow for Indian cricket.
We can’t go back in the era when cricket was controlled by white countries.
Also ICC head Mr. Manohar should take care of larger interest of cricket.
Cricket will lose its glory without Indian participation.
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