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Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007
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ICC backs BCCI, says Speed

Special Correspondent

We have not received any application from ICL

If the BCCI doesn’t approve the ICL, the ICC too will not
Dean Jones has called the ICL matches glorified exhibition games

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

Malcolm Speed.

Mumbai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) will support the position taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) with regard to unofficial cricket played in the country.

Malcolm Speed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ICC, after announcing the nominees for the ICC Awards 2007 here on Tuesday declared that the ICC is the parent body for member countries and looks at events with proper perspective.

“Just as the ICC deals with the West Indies Cricket Board of Control because it runs cricket in the West Indies, we deal with the Board of Control for Cricket in India because it’s the recognised body and runs cricket activities in India. It’s the same with Australia and other countries.

“The member countries of the ICC have agreed to follow a process on certain issues. From time to time when we get applications from private promoters, we follow a process and the last step is to ascertain from the member country if it has approved a particular competition. In this case (the Indian Cricket League), we have simply not received an application. If the BCCI doesn’t approve it, we will not,” said Mr. Speed.

Touching upon the ICL’s proposed Twenty20 competition, he cited an incident that took place in Australia. “On Monday, Dean Jones, appointed to attract players for the ICL, was criticised for being part of the ICL. Jones replied that they are only glorified exhibition matches.

“As I understand from media reports and discussions with people in India, the proposed competition will be run for three or four weeks with six teams, and that first class players from different Indian states as well as retired and retiring cricketers will take part in the competition.”

The process

Detailing the process the ICC follows on receiving applications from private promoters, Mr. Speed said: “Most of the cricket organised around the world are by the member countries. When private promoters emerge and seek to run cricket in a country that does not fit in the definition of the ICC, we follow a specific and clean process.

“It starts with when a person seeking to run ‘unofficial cricket’ applies to the ICC for permission. The ICC goes through a list of five criteria: (1) Who are the players and whether they are contracted with the member countries; (2) When and where is the event being held; (3) The safety and security of the venues; (4) Anti-corruption provisions; (5) When the event is being carried out.

“Thereafter, we ask if there is any cricket development or charitable aspect to it. Finally, we ask if they have the approval of the ICC member they are seeking to run the event. At this stage, we have not received any application. If the BCCI does not approve an event, we will not approve it. But we have not reached that stage as we have not been asked by anyone,” he said.

Disappointing

When told that Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousuf has joined the ICL, Mr. Speed said: “Yousuf is playing the best cricket of his career and my personal view is that it will be disappointing not to see him in action in the forthcoming India-Pakistan series. Having said that, we don’t interfere with the member countries disciplining or not disciplining its players. I don’t see ICC having a role there.” Asked to comment on a potential crisis looming in the event of the BCCI conveying to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that it will not accept a Pakistan team with ICL players in the squad for the India-Pakistan series, Mr. Speed said: “I don’t think the BCCI can dictate terms to the PCB as to who plays and why they play just like how PCB cannot dictate terms to the BCCI.”

On the aspect of former crickets showing a keen interest in administration, Mr. Speed cited New Zealand’s Martin Snedden, South Africa’s Dave Richardson as good examples of former cricketers involved in administration.

Mr. Speed recalled a statement he had made 18 months ago that Twenty20 will be a huge phenomenon in the world. “I was disappointed that India did not adopt it then. Now I am happy that the BCCI and other private individuals are popularising it.”

Corrections and clarifications

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