Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Nazmul Hasan has called for resolving the issues that BCCI has with ICC’s proposed new revenue model, as he believes that a weaker India would have an adverse effect on Bangladesh. After a meeting in February, ICC had agreed, in principle, to make certain changes to their financial structure, which received strong opposition from the BCCI.
A media release from BCCI soon after the ICC meeting had stated: “The BCCI representative, Mr. Vikram Limaye expressed his concern over both the documents especially in light of the insufficient time available to the Hon’ble Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators to take an informed view on the said proposal, and also there being no scientific basis behind the percentage distribution allocation that was being proposed other than “good faith and equity”.
“A revised financial distribution ensuring a more equitable distribution of revenues. A revised constitution to reflect good governance, expanding and clarifying of the roles and objectives of the ICC to provide leadership in international cricket,” it further said.
Hasan, who met BCCI’s Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai on Wednesday, felt there was a need to ensure none of the member countries are hurt by any such changes. “Everybody is trying to find a middle path to solve [the revenue structure problem] in a more amicable manner,” Hassan said. “We don’t want any member country to get hurt. Especially India as they have always supported us. If India becomes weak, we also become weak.”
While Hasan called for a more ‘equitable distribution’ of revenue, he reckoned India shouldn’t be robbed off their share. “I was a party to the decision when N Srinivasan was there [as ICC head] and the Big Three concept was mooted. Look, I believe we need a more equitable distribution but that certainly doesn’t mean you take away India’s share. No, no that’s not what we want.”
“Not all of us had agreed on the governance structure. There are a lot of issues that others don’t agree and there are some with which we don’t agree. That’s why it was placed at the ICC board meeting for everybody’s observation,” Hasan, who is a member of the ICC working group, said on the new model proposed.
“The CoA put forth their point on what their concerns on revenue model and governance structure are, while we also told them why we are supporting a few issues and not all. We will meet again and want more countries to join us,” he added.
