The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has reacted sharply to International Cricket Council (ICC)'s communication to member boards asking them to submit expression of interest to bid for global events in the 2023-31 media rights cycle. This ICC move effectively amounts to telling its members that the two new world events it plans to add to the 23-31 rights cycle are deemed to have been approved, reports agencies.
At the ICC Board meeting last October, the global governing body had proposed two additional world events—a 10-nation T20 Champions Cup in 2024 and 2028. That apart, it was also proposed to have two six-nation ODI tournaments—Champions Cup that will replace the Champions Trophy, to be held in 2025 and 2029. Despite objections raised by the BCCI representative at ICC, the events were given a provisional green signal.
When Sourav Ganguly took over as BCCI president last October, CEO Rahul Johri formally wrote to ICC, objecting to a move that would amount to staging one global event every year in the 2023-31 cycle. Subsequently, Cricket Australia (CA) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also expressed reservations over plans to stage additional ICC tournaments. "What happens if none of the important boards express interest to host these tournaments? Where will the events be staged?" asked BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal.
"The move has never been approved. If it was approved, why are they calling for expression of interest? These are two contradictory statements. They are seeking an approval now," Dhumal added.
Bilateral cricket holds immense value for self-sufficient boards like BCCI, which sold its last five-year rights for a whopping R6,138 crore (R60 crore per match). These bilateral matches would be directly affected if ICC adds more world events in the mix—the revenue from which would go into the world body's coffers with members getting a proportion of the profits.
"Increasing ICC events will have wide-ranging repercussions on bilateral cricket and therefore all aspects need to be discussed and analysed threadbare. It is imperative that the working group discussions are completed, and a report/recommendation are sent for the ICC CEC (Chief Executives Committee) to consider," Johri had written to the world body.
