BCCI secretary: If India doesn’t play in CT, it will become very difficult for the broadcasters

BCCI's share of the cash pie dropped down to $290 million from $570 million as per the new financial module. But the ICC offered to raise the BCCI's share to close to $400 million, but the game’s richest national body did not agree to accept the offer in the first place. The USD 390-million offer was given by ICC chairman Shashank Manohar and was originally rejected by the BCCI.

With the BCCI’s interests taking a setback, chances are that the board may decide to pull out from the Champions Trophy to be held in England in June. And Choudhary hinted at the possibility by saying, “I will tell you the exact figure if India decides to pull out and that can happen only after the general body. But it’s common sense; if India doesn’t play, it will become very difficult for the broadcasters to even produce (the event)."

Talking to the Indian Express, he said, “Once again, it’s not my habit to talk arbitrarily. And as I said, whenever a decision is to be taken, particularly a decision of this nature, then it has to be taken by the whole general body. I can’t speculate anything. I will just place the facts before the general body and the members will discuss and decide. People may say anything; I’m not responsible for that. Nor do I care. But what is based on facts, I can assess that and then make an opinion.”

Although Manohar was the chief architect of the cutting down the lion’s share of BCCI’s revenue, Choudhary denied to take any personal dig but pointed out that 70 per cent of cricket’s revenue world over comes from the Indian market and it should get the most of it.    

“It’s not my habit to make personal comment against anyone. And therefore, one should judge any subject on the basis of facts. The facts are that over 70 per cent of cricket’s revenue world over comes from the Indian market and therefore it’s only natural that India should get the lion’s share. It’s very easy and misleading to say that India is getting a disproportionate share. But then, why do you forget that a disproportionate share of revenues to cricket comes from India?”

On being asked if India are getting isolated in world cricket after the new governance and finance model, the acting secretary said, “The force of the market – India can never get isolated. Don’t be under this illusion. India will never get isolated irrespective of what happens in the future.”