COA tells BCCI to name CT team immediately
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 4
The officials of the Indian cricket board (BCCI) want to bargain with the International Cricket Council (ICC) for a larger share of ICC’s revenues. BCCI’s officials, thus, are using the Champions Trophy tournament — to be played in England and Wales from June 1 to 18 — as a bargaining chip. It’s for this reason that BCCI hasn’t yet named India’s team for the tournament — the deadline to name the team passed on April 25.
BCCI’s tactics are causing some unease in certain quarters — can India pull out of the tournament? India’s pullout would be a nightmare scenario for the TV rights holders, Star India, whose officials believe there’s “concern in the market”.
“There is concern in the market,” a Star India official said today. “There has been no official communication from the ICC or the BCCI on India’s participation. We have sent an email to the ICC asking how they plan to compensate us if our business is impacted due to India’s pullout.” The broadcaster had paid $1.9 billion for the ICC rights for an eight-year cycle from 2015.
BCCI’s officials are angry that ICC has reduced India’s revenue share from $570 million to $293 million. If BCCI revokes the Members Participation Agreement with ICC and pulls out of the Champions Trophy, TV revenues are going to be badly hit. BCCI’s officials will discuss the issue at a special general meeting on Sunday.
Name team: COA
The Committee of Administrators (COA) appointed by the Supreme Court, however, do not favour BCCI’s brinkmanship with ICC. They want BCCI to name India’s team immediately.
COA had already sent a couple of reminders in this regard to BCCI. COA’s latest rejoinder to joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary is very strongly-worded. “Please convene a meeting of the selection committee for selecting the squad immediately,” COA’s mail said. “The squad can then be submitted to ICC without prejudice to BCCI’s legal rights.”
Enough negativity
“Team India should be provided with a supportive environment to showcase Indian cricket instead of being surrounded with uncertainty and confusion,” the mail added. “There has been more than enough negativity surrounding Team India’s participation in the Champions Trophy and the sooner it is put to rest the better.”
“The focus should be on enabling our team to achieve greater heights and further laurels, which will automatically attract higher revenues,” the letter stated.
COA pointed out that India’s position in global cricket has been achieved by consensus, not by a confrontational approach.
COA also questioned the need to send a legal notice to ICC when the matter is yet to be placed before the general body. “In the above circumstances, there is no reason why any notice should be issued to ICC before the members of BCCI have had the opportunity to discuss the matter and take a well-considered decision,” it said.
COA also questioned the manner in which BCCI negotiated the whole deal. “We believe BCCI has not yet given the possibility of a negotiated outcome a fair chance,” the mail continued. “As communicated to you during our meeting on April 21, the resolutions passed during the Special General Meeting on April did not give you any flexibility to negotiate with ICC and other cricket boards.” — With agency inputs
