BCCI rejects $100 million offer from ICC Chairman, remains firm on Big-Three share

What’s the story?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly rejected International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Shashank Manohar's compensatory offer of $100 million. Instead, the Indian cricket authorities are keen on demanding their share from the Big-Three model.

“Yes, ICC chairman Shashank Manohar gave us an offer of an additional $100 million in the new financial model. In fact, he gave us a deadline to get back to him. From our end, we won't get back to him as we don't even consider it an offer. The offer came from Manohar.

“He is the chairman but ICC is a members' body and the chairman doesn't decide who gets what share of the pie. It's the members who decide. We are still working on the formula with all nations. They are receptive”, a senior BCCI official told PTI.

Offering a comparison, the official added, “Let us take the example that BCCI were being paid Rs 500 and others are being paid Rs 100. Now these member nations have been promised Rs 175 or let's say Rs 200. What Mr Manohar is trying do is to reduce BCCI's share to Rs 300 in order to increase their share.

“We are assuring the member nations that even if our share remains Rs 500, we promise to create a model to increase their share to Rs 200. But please have faith that we can propose a revenue generation model.”

The Context

Due to the ongoing financial dispute against ICC, the BCCI has not announced India’s squad for the upcoming edition of the Champions Trophy despite the deadline for all participating countries being April 25.

The heart of the matter

In the proposed revenue sharing model, BCCI stands to gain $290 million. However, under the controversial Big-Three formula which is set to be scrapped, the share goes up to $570 million. While Manohar is ready to offer an additional $100 million as a compensatory measure, BCCI want a bigger piece of the pie.

The revamped financial model is vital to the long awaited changes in the game’s governance structure. According to BCCI’s formula, the extra amount of $280 million will have to be taken from the shares assigned to Associate nations Ireland and Afghanistan. With the two teams likely to get Test status by 2019, the Indian board expects ICC’s costs to be reduced by $100 million in the near future.

What’s next?

BCCI wants to postpone the financial and governance changes to June. However, the all important board meeting is slated to be held on April 26 in Dubai. Secretary Amitabh Choudhury will represent the Indian board in the ICC meeting.

Author’s Take

Given that the remaining funds will go a long way in facilitating the growth of Ireland and Afghanistan in the sport, BCCI’s stance in this issue is morally wrong. As a leading power in the game, the Indian board has to be broad-minded and needs to take a look at the bigger picture which is cricket’s expansion.