Ashraf warns that ICC shouldn’t be guided by money
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Cricket will be ruined if, in the proposed changes to the ICC, “we go after money”, Pakistan board chief Zaka Ashraf warned yesterday.
Pakistan, along with Sri Lanka and South Africa, have sought time to consider radical changes to the International Cricket Council (ICC) proposed by the rich boards of India, England and Australia. The ICC delayed any decision on reforms in Dubai this week.
“I told them in the ICC meeting that we should see whether we need money or cricket because if there’s cricket every board will get the money. If you go after money, it won’t bring in cricket,” Ashraf said.
The proposed changes give more powers to the big three, and it will be discussed again at the next ICC meeting on February 8.
Three boards considering their options suggest seven out of the 10 full ICC members back the reforms. Just one more vote was needed to get them approved.
The big three toned down the proposals in an attempt to seize power in the ICC meeting this week.
The ICC board has provisionally approved a five-member executive committee and a five-member finance and commercial affairs committee. They would each include members from India, England and Australia and two others from the ICC board. The Board of Control for Cricket in India, England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Australia proposed a four-member executive committee with the big three rotating the chair between them and deciding who should join them.
The ICC executive also rejected promotion and relegation among the 10 Test-playing countries, much to the relief of lowly ranked Bangladesh, who initially were with Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
“They (Bangladesh) must have seen their interest (answered), but we have to see if it’s a short-term gain or a long-term gain,” Ashraf said.
“We will also see what is good for our board and for our country.”