Boycott could cost India over $500 mn, feel top Board officials
While the BCCI members are divided over whether India should participate in the Champions Trophy or not, concerns of those, and the Committee of Administrators, keen for the team to play also stems from the possible monetary loss it could suffer in case of a pullout by exercising the Members Participation Agreement (MPA).
As per the 2014 ICC constitution, India, England and Australia had contracts different from other boards. Only these three have the right to exercise the MPA if their interests are hurt. If any of them exercises it, as BCCI is threatening to, it will also be out of all ICC events in the 2015-2023 cycle. It is learnt certain members are very keen to exercise it and have been trying to muster the numbers ahead of the Special General Meeting on Sunday. A former top cricket official said, “Let ICC go ahead without India. Let’s see if they can host it.”
However, a top board official told HT, “It is not that easy to exercise MPA. Assuming BCCI pulls out and the ICC goes ahead without India, it will hurt a lot because India are due to host two events --- Champions Trophy in 2021 and the World Cup in 2023. We’ve already hosted the 2016 World T20 in this cycle and we’ll be foregoing a windfall.”
The ICC events are lucrative as the world body organises them and the hosts also get the hosting fees. As per estimates, India could lose around $100million in hosting fees if it exercises the MPA. The 2021 Champions Trophy and 2023 ICC World Cup will, in that case, go to others. “That apart, we stand to lose $293 million as well as the $100 million on offer that we are already getting as members’ share as per the new constitution,” the official said.
LOSING PRIZEMONEY
All this adds up to almost $500 million. Add to that the prize money from various ICC events
With an aim to stay relevant till the business end, a desperate Kings XI Punjab will be aiming for a comprehensive victory against a down-and-out Royal Challengers Bangalore.
With 8 points from 9 games, KXIP are placed fifth while RCB after 8 defeats from 11 games are at the bottom of the heap. For Kings XI Punjab, a win will keep them in contention with another four matches to go.
The RCB under Virat Kohli will however be only playing for pride with an aim to finish on a winning note in their remaining matches.
With nothing at stake, Kohli might be inclined to give some of the youngsters a go, removing the non- performers.
After the high of the last international season, the IPL has been a kind of a setback for skipper Kohli with his team letting him down pretty badly. Kohli himself has been a lone ranger, amidst a bunch of non-performers.
KXIP crushed Delhi Daredevils by 10 wickets in their previous game With RCB’S morale at its
from a total pool of $65 million, in case India win or finish among the top teams, it could lose well over $500 million that it should be getting. The current cycle is from 2015-2023. In the last cycle, India won the 2007 World T20, 2011 50-over World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy, thus receiving KXIP to register another facile win in order to remain in contention.
For the Glenn Maxwell-led side, Hashim Amla with 315 runs, including a century, has been in good form. Martin Guptill also looked in ominous touch during his 27-ball half-century.
KXIP fans could be hoping a big knock from Maxwell, who has been a disappointment this year, just getting 193 runs in nine matches with unbeaten 44 his
the winners’ cheques. What is also of concern is the legal issues that will arise after a pullout, or if the ICC decides to slap a fine “The ICC may go ahead with lega proceedings and the cost and heavy penalty and compensa tion, if India loses, will have to be borne by the Indian board.”
While KXIP batting needs to fire in unison, they will be hoping that pacers Sandeep Sharma and Varun Aaron do a repeat act of their performance against the Daredevils. They would also pin hopes on left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who has taken 10 wickets from nine matches.
For RCB, the problem has been the failure of their batting line-up which includes Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB De Villiers and Kedar Jadhav. There has been stray performances but nothing collective.
Fringe India players like Man deep Singh and Stuart Binny have been big disappointments for the popular franchise. The sil ver lining has been the perform ances of their two leg-spinners spinners -- Samuel Badree (9 wickets) and Yuzvendra Chaha