BCCI miss Champions Trophy squad-submission deadline
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The BCCI have missed the April 25 deadline to submit the Champions Trophy squad to the ICC and cited "operational" reasons for the delay. With the BCCI secretary and CEO attending ICC meetings and skipper Virat Kohli playing in the IPL, the concerned parties are not in one place to pick the squad.
"We have told the ICC the reason behind the delay," an unnamed BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo. "We have told them we will announce it soon."
However, it appears that the delay is a stern message by the Indian board to the ICC that they might withdraw their participation from the quadrennial event if the latter does not retain theĀ previous share of revenue model until the next meeting in June.Ā
In the new proposed model, BCCI's share could cut down to $290 million from a colossal $570 million. Reports have also emerged that the ICC offered to raise the BCCI's share to close to $400 million, but the gameās richest body is still not convinced.Ā
If the BCCI wants to pull out of the tournament, the intent needs to be conveyed in a written letter to the ICC, but neither Amitabh Choudhury nor CEO Rahul Johri has the power to renege on the Members Participation Agreement (MPA). Only the members of the Committee of Administrators (COA) can sign on the MPA.Ā
"To pull out you have to revoke the MPA, which is a legal document," the board official said. "All the legal authority sits with the COA. The office bearers will need to consult the COA. You can make a threat, but you have to follow it up with a letter to become a reality. Then if the COA approves then it will direct
The ICC said that it was "working with the BCCI to ensure that it meets its obligation under the MPA". According to the MPA, which has been signed by all eight participating teams, āthe squads had to be submitted a month before May 25, which is when the tournament's support period begins. During the support period, teams will play warm-up matches leading up to the start of the tournament proper on June 1.ā
Given there is no sanction or penalty if a member board fails to meet the deadline, it appears that the BCCI will be in the safe zone on that point.Ā
