BCCI to push for deferment of ICC revenue model

The ICC currently works on the Big three revenue Model, which gives the top three cricketing nations namely India, Australia and England a higher share of the revenue earned from the ICC tournaments. But, according to the SGM held in 2014, a new more radical model was proposed to be adopted for the share. ICC’s new constitution aims to reduce India?s share in resources?by close to $200 million for the ongoing eight-year rights cycle from?2015?to?2023.

The BCCI in an attempt to safeguard the currently existing Big three Model are pushing for the deferment of the ICC?s proposal which was initiated in?2014.?The BCCI, then represented by CoA (committee of administrators) member Vikram Limaye had voted against, along with Sri Lanka, while Bangladesh and Zimbabwe had abstained.

Amitabh Choudhary, the working secretary of the BCCI is expected to ignore the ?go soft? approach suggested by the CoA and take the battle to the ICC during the board meeting from 26 to 28 April in Dubai, while using India?s participation in the Champions Trophy as a handle. The BCCI have already taken a stringent step against the decision by missing the 25 April deadline for squad submission for the Champion?s Trophy in June. According to an Indian cricket board official, efforts are on to defer the whole thing ?at least by two-three months?. ?We are trying to persuade them that we are not against the others in terms of what they want (revenue share), but they should also reciprocate by understanding that India?s position cannot be harmed. So, if the whole thing is kept on hold for some time, then fresh thoughts can be applied,? said a BCCI official.

ICC needs eight members to vote in favour of its proposal if the new model has to get through. While it is near to impossible that India will not be playing the Champions Trophy this year, we cannot ignore the fact that BCCI is very rigid in their thoughts this time around. The Indian cricket team generates the largest chunk of the revenue and they should be getting the biggest share as well, opines BCCI. However, ICC is making sure that equal amount of share is distributed among all the member countries for the overall development of cricket. The BCCI is likely to announce the Indian squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, only after the ICC board meets on 26-28 April.