NEW DELHI: Facing stiff resistance from some member boards, the International Cricket Council (ICC) executive board on Tuesday decided against taking any hasty decisions on the proposed plan by Indian, English and Australian cricket administrators to radically revamp the functioning of the world body.

Following a heated six-hour meeting in Dubai on the first day of the ICC conference, the controversial ‘Big Three’ proposal to take over the functioning of the ICC and allot a larger share of the profits to itself could not even be brought to vote.

A follow-up meeting will be held next month to further discuss the proposals, according to an ICC statement which listed some key ingredients of a tweaked and somewhat conciliatory ‘position paper’ which have ostensibly found acceptance among members.

The proposal, when it does go to vote, requires the support of at least seven of the 10 Full-Member countries. The statement also revealed that the proposals had been drawn up with the full consent of ICC president Alan Isaac.

Before the meeting – which brought together representatives of the 10 Full Members, three associate nation representatives and the ICC’s president, vice-president and chief executive – Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf told Pakistani TV channels that

Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka were opposed to the proposals and would ‘stick’ to their ‘stance’.

The Bangladesh board (BCB) also issued a statement after the meeting reiterating its opposition. Officials of these four boards told reporters after the meeting that the matter had not gone to vote.

The ICC statement suggested that though some of the original proposals have been diluted, several new ideas may soon come to pass. These include, among others, “mutually agreed bilateral FTP agreements which will be legally binding and bankable and a Test cricket fund for the remaining seven members”.

A “central leadership responsibility for the BCCI”, which generates about 80% of the game’s revenues, seems on the cards. There will also be space for two more members apart from the ‘Big Three’ in a new executive committee (Ex-Co) and finance and commercial affairs (FCA) committee.

There is also a proposal to replace the World Test Championship with a revived Champions Trophy. The plan for a two-tier Test format was, interestingly, missing from the list.

There is also a proposal for BCCI president N Srinivasan to become the chairman of the ICC from June 2014, as the first chairman will be from India. Similarly, a CA representative will be the chairman of the Ex-Co while the ECB representative will be head of FCA.

Isaac was quoted as saying, “There is more work to be done by the members in developing their schedules of bilateral cricket while at the ICC we need to work through the detail of the manner in which these principles will be implemented. Extensive work will now be undertaken in advance of a follow-up (ICC) board meeting next month.”

Isaac also lamented the controversy over the leaked proposals, saying, “Several months ago I encouraged BCCI, CA and ECB to enter into a constructive dialogue to help resolve some of the key commercial and governance issues. It is…very disappointing that a draft position paper from these members was leaked as this prompted a debate that ignored the ongoing negotiations… and led to unwarranted criticism.”

Key Proposals

The ICC in a statement listed some key principles relating to future governance. These include….

Opportunity for all members to play all formats on merit, with participation based on meritocracy; no immunity to any country and no change to membership status.

A Test cricket fund paid equally on an annual basis to all Full Members except the BCCI, CA and the ECB.

A larger percentage from increasing associate members’ surplus to be distributed to higher performing non-full members.

Mutually agreed bilateral FTP Agreements which will be legally binding and bankable and will run for the same period as the ICC commercial rights cycle (2015-2023).

Recognition of the need for strong leadership of the ICC, involving leading members, which will involve BCCI taking central leadership responsibility.

Need to recognise varying contribution of Full Members to the value of ICC events through payment of ‘contribution costs’.

Establishment of an executive committee (ExCo) and financial and commercial affairs committee (FCA) to provide leadership at an operational level, with five members, including BCCI, CA and ECB representatives.

Anybody from within the board can be elected to chair and anybody from within ExCo and FCA can be elected to chair the committees.

With ICC undergoing a transitional period that includes a new governance structure and media rights cycle, this leadership will be provided for two years from June 2014 by: a BCCI representative to chair the ICC board, a CA representative to chair the ExCo and an ECB representative to chair the FCA.

New company to be incorporated to tender future commercial rights for ICC events.

There will be three major ICC events in each four-year cycle, including the ICC Champions Trophy which will replace the World Test C’ship.

ICC will utilise a more efficient operating model for all ICC events, with a simplified accounting model across ICC income and expenditure.