Dubai, Jan 29 (IANS/CMC) The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is projecting a one hundred percent increase in revenue over the next eight years if new principles giving more control over cricket’s future to England, India and Australia are voted in.
The WICB has issued a statement backing the principles put forward on day one of the ICC executive Board meeting in Dubai and said it had engaged in “extensive discussions” before making its decision.
“After extensive discussions and careful consideration the West Indies Cricket Board joined with all other Full Members of the ICC in providing support for key principles relating to the future structure, governance and financial models of the ICC,” the release said.
“Based on new proposed system of ICC revenue sharing for the upcoming eight year cycle (2015-2023) WICB projects to receive at least 100 percent increase on the previous eight year cycle (2006-2014).”
Key principles agreed to include a new ICC executive committee of five members, including representatives from the “Big Three” nations, which received unanimous support from the 16-man board.
Other key changes include a new two-tier system which could give ICC associate members such as Ireland the chance to play Test cricket, while a special fund is being created to help keep the five-day game alive.
The annual Test Match Fund, to support Full Members other than India, England and Australia, will “allow the WICB a financial buffer in the hosting of Test cricket against unprofitable teams”, the release said.
“West Indies will have an opportunity, through bilateral agreements, to increase the number of matches and series (Tests, ODIs and T20Is) played annually by the West Indies men’s team against higher ranked opposition and against teams which are profitable to the WICB. These will include matches and series both in the West Indies and overseas.”
The WICB statement also said that the BCCI, ECB and Cricket Australia “have all committed” to increased tours to the Caribbean over the next eight years, in addition to the current tours slotted into the Future Tours Programme (FTP).
The regional board, which had declined from making public statements before the meeting, said that it would not be affected by the originally proposed two-tier Test system since they are currently ranked seven on the ICC ratings.
If the key principles are put to a vote and approve, India, Australia and England will have a bigger share of cricket’s global revenues and bigger control of the games governance.
Four cricket boards, Cricket South Africa, Sri Lanka Cricket, the Bangladesh cricket Board and the Pakistan Cricket Board, have opposed the new ICC principles.
–IANS/CMC
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