Shashank Manohar criticises India, England and Australia's upper hand in ICC

Shashank Manohar’s term as ICC chairman ends in June 2016

Shashank Manohar, president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has expressed his disappointment at the disparity of power in International Cricket Council’s (ICC) governing body. Manohar, who is also the chairman of ICC, called last year’s constitutional revamp as “bullying”.

While criticizing the fact that boards of India, England and Australia greater authority and a larger share of the revenue, BCCI chief told The Hindu, “I don't agree with the three major countries bullying the ICC. That's my personal view, because as I have always said, an institution is bigger than individuals. You cannot guarantee which individual will occupy the top position in either of these countries.”

Having ICC committee heads from India, England or Australia not necessary

He also feels that ICC needs the best and it doesn’t matter of he comes from anywhere other than these three places. “The ICC constitution, as it stands today, says that in all the major committees of the ICC, these three countries will be automatically there. So all the financial and commercial aspects and the executive committee will be controlled by the representatives of these three countries, which according to me is wrong. You should have the best man, whether he comes from Zimbabwe, or West Indies, or even from an associate or affiliate to work on a committee, who will promote the interests of the ICC,” he added.

N. Srinivasan, whom Manohar has replaced as ICC chairman was instrumental behind this Big Three plan. Then Srinivasan had told ESPNcricinfo that the three boards were not taking over ICC, rather they would stabilize the cricket playing nations. "If I had to sum it up I will say the proposal gives financial stability to nations who play cricket,” he had said.

However, Manohar doesn’t agree with the revenue sharing formula. BCCI president said, “I don't agree with the revenue-sharing formula, because it's nice to say that India (BCCI) will get 22% of the total revenue of the ICC, but you cannot make the poor poorer and the rich richer, only because you have the clout. The ICC runs cricket throughout the world.”

India generates money because fierce competitors come and play here

The current ICC chairman also feels India generates more revenues only because strong opponents come to play in India. “India generates money because the other countries come and play in India. If you do not have a fierce competition, the broadcasters are not going to pay you and the sponsors are not going to sponsor your events. If all teams are of the standards of the low placed ninth and tenth team and India is a good side, who is going to pay you; what interest would be left with the spectators to watch a game, if it's a one-sided game always. So if you reduce their corpus, their development is going to be hampered and ICC has to think from that point of view.”

Dual role might lead to conflict of interest

He also pointed out how dual roles can create conflict of interest. Manohar said, “According to me there is a conflict now at the ICC level, which I have to sort out. Under the present ICC constitution, the chairmanship is offered to the representative of the BCCI. Under the ICC constitution, after the annual conference, there is going to be an election and the person who is elected the chairman will continue only till the time he continues to be the representative of his country.” While explaining this he gave his own example and said that as BCCI chief his role is to see Indian board’s interests and that might hamper his task as ICC chairman.

Manohar also feels when voting for ICC chairman, one should vote for an individual, not for a member of any board. He added, “So tomorrow here could be a scenario, wherein 'A' person is elected the chairman and after 10 days he is removed by his board, 'B' would take over as the chairman, and after four months that person is removed, 'C' would take over as chairman. When people vote, they vote for an individual; they don't vote for a member board. It's the competence of a person to lead the ICC is important, and keeping that in mind, people vote for him. According to me that clause is also a bad clause.”

Manohar also drew attention to this fact that before the amendments, it was necessary for chairman of ICC to resign from post held in any board. He has already spoken to England Cricket Board chief Giles Clarke and other senior officials of ICC about these issues. He said, “I have spoken about these issues to Giles Clarke (ECB) and he agreed with me.”