BCCI to back ‘Big Three’ formula in ICC meeting

The ICC had radically restructured its administration and revenue distribution system in 2013 after a campaign by Cricket Australia, the BCCI, and the ECB to change the fundamental structure of the world cricket body. The system was put in place by former ICC chief N Srinivasan, and it invited protests from other cricketing boards in the ICC. Shashank Manohar, who replaced Srinivasan as ICC Chairman last year, had then talked about ending the “bullying by the big three”, and had vowed to correct the faults of the world cricketing body. But, newly-appointed BCCI chief Anurag Thakur, who replaced Shashank Manohar, has decided to take a step which is direct contrast to his predecessor.

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According to the reports in Pakistan media, Thakur has held discussions with the board chiefs of England and Australia cricket boards over the ‘Big Three’ issue and is likely to speak in favour of the system during the ICC meeting at London in last week of June.

BCCI’s decision to back the system is supposedly based on the fear of losing money from advertisement restrictions during matches, which was one of the recommendations by the Lodha committee.

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"If the Lodha recommendations are put in place, BCCI's earnings will get hit in a big way. In that case, if BCCI lets go of the money it gets from ICC, it will become a pauper," a source c­lose to the development said, reported Cricbuzz.

However, reports in Pakistan media also quoted Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shaharyar Khan, who said that the decision to do away with the system is already taken and only the modalities are remaining.

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