BCCI rejects proposed revenue sharing model CEO shoots down request for early release of IPL funds
In letter to ICC, Limaye refers to rights under a members’ participation pact
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday sent a 11-page letter to International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Dave Richardson, categorically rejecting the proposed revenue model and constitutional changes.
BCCI has reminded the world body that it has the option of exercising rights mentioned under the members’ participation agreement (MPA).
Committee of Administrators (COA) member Vikram Limaye in his letter has pointed out that ICC should respect the MPA signed on October 12, 2014. BCCI can take legal recourse if ICC violates MPA, which assures certain benefits to member-nations who compete in the ICC tournaments from 2015-2023.
According to the letter accessed by PTI, Limaye has reminded Richardson of the MPA entered between BCCI and ICC Business Corporation FZ LLC (IBC) relating to global events between 2015 and 2023.
The letter stated: “The proposed new ICC Constitution and financial model will, if adopted, entitle us to exercise certain rights under the MPA and also to avail remedies under applicable law. We trust the ICC will reconsider the proposed new ICC constitution and financial models in light of provisions of the MPA so that we do not have to consider exercising our rights and remedies in relation to the MPA, which are expressly The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Chief Executive Rahul Johri has categorically told the 10 state associations that their request for early release of funds to conduct Indian Premier League (IPL) matches was “not justified” as it violated a tri-partite agreement. The original request was made by the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) but Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Mumbai, Bengal, Punjab, UP, Delhi and Hyderabad were also mentioned in the letter. Johri said in his letter to the associations: “The request contained in the letter for release of ~30 lakh per match on ‘ASAP basis’ is not justified. The said amount can only be released after you have duly performed in full and at each match, your obligations under relevant stadium agreement and taken all steps to perform the same so as to ensure that the upcoming Vivo IPL 2017 is conducted smoothly.” Johri has also requested the state units to sign the draft of stadium agreement. PTI reserved. Please communicate our stand to ICC for information and necessary action.”
It is learnt COA has already in its meeting decided that India’s interest as the financial powerhouse is non- negotiable.
Limaye, after his first board meeting in Dubai in February, had said ICC could not give any cogent reason as to what economic model has been used for equitable distribution of revenue which seemed to be based more on “good faith and equity”.
BCCI has garnered enough support to thwart the ICC’s new revenue sharing model, with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe by its side.