IAN CHAPPELL

The BCCI was comprehensively outvoted when the ICC’s proposed constitutional revamp went before the Board at a recent meeting. So, what does this mean for the game when the most powerful body and by far its greatest financial contributor is shunned?

The first thing we know is the BCCI won’t take this rejection lightly. The most important aspect of the rebuff is that it involved a hit to the BCCI’s projected revenue stream. Considering the importance all cricket administrations place on finance, it’s hard not to imagine the BCCI will react angrily to this perceived slight.

There have been mutterings for some time about the BCCI expanding their highly successful and lucrative IPL tournament. Any profits from the IPL are not shared among the other cricket nations, so it’s easy to assume this will be the first port of call for the BCCI to cover any shortfall following the ICC rebuff.

Any expansion of the IPL will involve players being more committed to the T20 format. The high-profile players who participate in the IPL are well-rewarded so it’s hard to see many, if any, not simply accepting such a dramatic change to the schedule. More involvement in the T20 format obviously means less time for players to participate elsewhere.

The 50-over game has already been squeezed, so it stands to reason any cutbacks to accommodate an expanded T20 schedule are most likely to occur in the Test programme.

The five-day game really only prospers in Australia and England, so it’s doubtful if