bcci
Reuters

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) hoped to get maximum cooperation from the ICC member nations at the crucial ICC Board Meeting in Dubai on Wednesday April 26. In return, the Committee of Administrators (COA) was left embarrassed and fuming.

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The BCCI now has lost a major chunk of revenue from the ICC as well as governance voting powers. ICC's first independent chairman Shashank Manohar may have just checkmated the Indian cricket board.

Key takeaways from the meeting:

ICC Member countries: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe.

VOTE 1

  • Motion: Change in the governance structure
  • Result: BCCI 1-9 Other ICC member nations
  • Who was the solitary voter: BCCI Joint Secretary Amitabh Choudhary.

The BCCI was against the ICC's governance model, which called for a change in its constitution with review of full membership, and a two-tier Test structure.

VOTE 2

  • Motion: Change in the revenue model
  • Result: BCCI 2-8 Other ICC member nations
  • The only voters: BCCI Joint Secretary Amitabh Choudhary, Sri Lanka Cricket chief Thilanga Sumathipala.

The BCCI are against the ICC's proposed revenue model, which is set to bring an end to the 'Big 3' domination, and cut India's revenues to half from $570 million.

What the BCCI expected?

- Two assured votes from Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, but were left trolled.

- Major embarrassment for the COA especially who went into negotiations with a lot of ICC member nations ahead of the vote, but were left betrayed.

- BCCI's biggest backbiters: Nazmul Hasan Papon (Bangladesh Cricket Board chief), David Peever (Cricket Australia chief), Haroon Lorgat (Cricket South Africa chief).

"Zimbabwe have been promised $19 million by the ICC. On what grounds has Manohar made this promise? But strangely Bangladesh also went the other way," the Press Trust of India quoted a fuming BCCI official.

"Today at the meeting, Manohar, in fact, said the $290 million is a 'take it or leave it' offer.

"Our aim was to protect India's interest. Our tone was extremely conciliatory at the meeting for the best interest of the game. But what was shocking was Mr Manohar's stance," the official added.

What now?

"They [the ICC] have basically disrespected the Members Participation Agreement that was earlier signed. As of now the joint secretary will go back and an emergent SGM will be called. He will then apprise the General Body about the developments and an appropriate decision will be taken," the official said.

"The ICC is yet to tell us what is the basis on which a nation like Singapore stands to gain more. What exactly are the grounds? Can they explain how are they trying to cut down the Operational Costs of ICC which is $160 million?"

When asked if the BCCI are pulling the India cricket team out from the ICC Champions Trophy, he mentioned: "All options are open."

Final note:

It may have had all started with the forced exit of Anurag Thakur from the BCCI, in January 2017. Indian cricket fans, get ready for tough times ahead!