Rebels, 10-over cricket force ICC to pick BCCI’S brains
NEW DELHI: A breakaway rebel governing body, the proposed T10 format and lack of interest from broadcasters are among “18 threats” that international cricket faces right now, according to a report of the ICC’S Strategic Working Group (SWG) which will discuss these issues with the BCCI here. The report claims to be a SWOT analysis of the issues confronting world cricket.
The SWG comprises Cricket Australia’s David Peever, BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, Singapore’s Imran Khwaja, Cricket South Africa’s Patricia Karambami, West Indies Cricket Board’s Dave Cameron and women’s representative Clare Connor.
The Group will update the Committee of Administrators (COA) on global strategy for cricket. The COA has also invited BCCI office-bearers.
“Yes, there has been threat to ICC. A very well-known former cricket administrator (currently banned) along with an Indian TV channel and an Australian lawyer had approached a lot of players and officials in order to form a parallel global body. They had named it ‘Operation Watershed’ then,” a senior BCCI official said.
“They wanted to form parallel associations in each country and were offering a lot of money to players. The project didn’t take off but there’s no reason that it won’t take off once again,” the official said.
The ICC analysis does not take names. However, it is interesting to note that in 2016, there were reports of sacked IPL commissioner Lalit Modi approaching officials from England and Australia to form a parallel body, a speculation that dies down as qucikly as it took off.
Another matter of concern is the proposed T10 format amid statements from stars such as Brandon Mccullum that Test cricket will not be sustainable in the long run. “The T10 league is also a matter of concern. More so, it was organised by Emirates Cricket Board (last year) with players like Eoin Morgan, Shoaib Malik, Dwayne Bravo taking part,” the official said.
These threats could be directly linked to point No.8 in the report which states: “Uncontrolled private investment into sports by commercial operators whose interests are aligned with short term financial gains rather than long term health and growth of sports.” Also, football’s growth is also listed as a threat.