CASH WOE Calls to level playing field
CRICKET WEST INDIES’ boss hopes their decision to tour England will lead to a rethink in the distribution of cash in the world game.
The West Indies and Pakistan – not to mention Ireland – have dug the ECB out of a huge hole.
A summer of no cricket would have cost a whopping £380million, according to the ECB’s chief executive Tom Harrison.
As it is, the West Indies’ arrival has breathed fresh life into the summer, despite no supporters being allowed in the venues.
But while Jason Holder’s side have achieved parity on the field, off it there’s still a huge gap in bank balances between the haves and have-nots of world cricket.
And Johnny Grave, the chief executive of Cricket West Indies, said: “I hope it does lead to a change, but I can’t really say I’m very confident.
“Unfortunately the recent trend has been that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. I know the ECB understand and appreciate that without the West Indies and Pakistan, then they would have been in considerable financial difficulty. There has never been more money in cricket but unfortunately it’s not being shared equally.”
Grave points out that the ECB will have made more from hosting the 2017
ICC Champions Trophy and the
2019 Cricket World
Cup than the visiting sides this summer will receive in the eight-year cycle (2016-23) from world cricket’s governing body.
And it is that kind of pay gap that has left the minnows increasingly frustrated.
“Most of the nations don’t even expect a fair share – they just need a share to survive,” said Grave. “The fact that international cricket has come back with Test cricket is brilliant because it has put Test cricket firmly in the limelight.
“Journalists and fans are remembering there is great cricket history and rivalry between the West Indies and England, and also Pakistan and England. I personally think that England playing the two other big teams so often and for such long series does get a bit monotonous.
“And in recent times the results have been quite predictable. I believe it’s more exciting if everyone plays each other in a more equitable league system.”