ICC report states that there is a lack of aggressive growth strategy to counter over-reliance in India

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is on the path to building its ‘independent identity’. The council’s Strategy Working Group (SWG) has cited in a report that the over-reliance on India is hampering the growth of cricket as a global game. The SWG also highlighted that cricket is governed via the laws formulated by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and hence the ICC doesn’t have exclusive dominion over the regulation of world cricket.

TOI has a copy of the report in which the SWOT analysis says that cricket is not truly global sport because of heavy dependence on revenues and fans from India. It also asserts that there is lack of aggressive expansion/growth strategy to counter over-reliance on India.

The report is set and will be discussed at New Delhi on Thursday. The scheduled meeting would comprise the ICC working group and the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) officials. Interestingly, BCCI CEO Rahul Johri is a part of the SWG which has pointed out a disturbing imbalance in the distribution of world cricket’s income which comes with the lack of financial stability of leading members. This has been an issue of the past as well as the BCCI and the ICC have overlooked a previous negotiation over revenues. Considering the points taken up in this report, the ICC now deems to further reduce the BCCI’s share from its income in order to sustain other members.

ICC has noted Anglocentric norms as one of its weaknesses. "The Spirit of Cricket is often seen as a fundamental part of the sport's attraction but does not always translate identically in different cricketing cultures. Furthermore, the regulation of the international game is exclusively in English and decision-making is undertaken in English," the report stated.

The report has also mentioned that there is a lack of engagement by other communities (non-south Asian, Carribean) in non-traditional ‘growth’ markets. Further, broadcast markets don’t seem to compete anymore and there are uncontrolled private investments by "commercial operators whose interests are aligned with short-term financial gain". Star comes to my mind as they caught mega deals in Indian cricket this year.

Interestingly, BCCI, ECB and CA had formed the 'Big Three' in world cricket when it came to revenue sharing. That model was later abandoned.

With the growth drives of cricket globally in mind, the ICC is keen on sustaining Test formats but is still uncertain about short-term leagues. The report has listed events like T10 ( a ten-over event) as one of its threats but has also accepted that the format is an opportunity to popularise the game.