BCCI to decide on Champions Trophy participation on May 7
The Indian cricket Board will hold its SGM in New Delhi to finalise its response after being isolated in the ICC Board meeting in Dubai this week that passed a revised revenue and administrative model.
“We are going to convene the SGM on May 7 and there will be only one agenda --- how to go ahead on the ICC matter,” BCCI acting president CK Khanna said on Friday.
The BCCI found little support in its bid to retain the 2014 Big Three plan which gave India, Australia and England the lion’s share of revenues, and it is considering a boycott of the June Champions Trophy in England.
The BCCI has not announced the squad despite the April 25 deadline. However, Vinod Rai, head of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (COA), played down the possibility of India, the holders, boycotting the tournament.
“Let the SGM first take a decision. We’ll follow the procedure. I’m confident it will be a good decision. By chance if it is not, then at that time we’ll look at it,” Rai told the media in Mumbai.
‘ICC OFFER STILL OPEN’
He said the ICC offer to add $100 million to the $293 million allotted as India’s share for 2015-23 was still valid. “Of course, it’s open. (There’s) nothing to worry about, nothing is lost, it’s not a closed chapter... Don’t worry, aap ki umido pe paani nahin phirega (you will not be left disappointed),” Rai said. He denied the COA had any differences with the BCCI office-bearers.
“We’re 100% on the same page… We discussed in detail what they had decided, and what we had negotiated. After all, they are the elected office-bearers, they need to represent BCCI in ICC, and the ICC has not listened to their viewpoint. We will discuss again and find a solution.”
NO SUCH CONSENSUS
However, some senior BCCI officials insist India must pull out of the Champions Trophy. A top Board official, in favour of exercising the Members’ Participation Agreement drawn up with the 2014 revenue plan to pull out told HT, “We can exercise the MPA only till June 20 after which it will become difficult as the new laws and constitution will come into place. This is the best chance to exercise our rights and self-defence mechanism.”
He denied the BCCI and COA were in agreement.
“If that was the case, then why do we still have issues? (BCCI CEO) Rahul Johri wasn’t assertive enough in the ICC meeting he was ready to take anything they were giving. The Board officials weren’t.
“No we are not on the same page.”