All top board chiefs were in India to discuss ICC revenue: Rai

The head of Committee of Administrators (COA) Vinod Rai expressed his confidence that BCCI has reached consensus after almost all the top cricket board chiefs have come to India in the last two weeks to discuss the proposed revenue model of ICC.

While Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Nazmul Hasan Papon's visit was known but the COA chief's information made it clear that BCCI has quietly worked about its proposal with various cricket boards.

"In the last two weeks, the head of Cricket Australia David Peever, Cricket South Africa Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, head of Zimbabwe Cricket Tavengwa Mukuhlani, SLC's Thilanga Sumathipala, WICB's Dave Cameron and Singapore (since they are part of Working Group) Cricket board's head Imran Khawaja have all come to India to discuss the revenue model," COA head Vinod Rai told PTI during an interaction.
 

Rai said that they have also met ICC chairman Shashank Manohar. The only person who couldnt make it was England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke.

Asked about confident he is about getting all cricket boards on same page, Rai said: "I am very confident as we have proposed a formula that will be acceptable to everyone. It is a win-win situation where Indian Cricket Board will not lose out on anything and every other board will benefit from the model. In the last two weeks, discussions with every board head, who has come to India has been fruitful."

Rai however said that he is not concerned about who exactly will be BCCI reprsentative at the ICC.

"Look we had asked for Supreme Court directions on eligibility of BCCI representative. Now there is an SGM of BCCI on 18th of this month and whatever the decision is will be taken there. IT's there internal meeting and we will not interfere at all. Also no one from COA will be present at that meeting. I myself will again be out of the country on that particular date," Rai said.

Meanwhile Hasan said that everyone wants a strong India as BCCI being weak will also not augur well for Bangladesh cricket.

"Everybody is trying to find a middle path and solve (the revenue structure problem) in a more amicable manner," Hasan told mediapersons after his meeting with the COA.

"We don't want any member country to get hurt. Especially India as they have always supported us. If India becomes weak, we also become weak."

However, the BCB chief is an advocate of equitable distribution of ICC revenue.

"I was a party to the decision when N Srinivasan was there and Big Three (India, Australia, England) concept was mooted. Look I believe we need a more equitable distribution but that certainly doesn't mean, you take away India's share. No, no that's not what we want."

Having said that, BCB supremo said there is a need to help member countries which are going through financial crisis.

Asked about the proposed changes in ICC's governance structure, Hasan said different member nations have different issues.

"Not all of us had agreed on the governance structure. There are a lot of issues that others don't agree and there are some with which we don't agree. That's why it was placed at the ICC Board Meeting for everybody's observation," he said.

Hasan further said that both BCCI and BCB have submitted their observations on the governance issue.

While he didn't divulge the details of the meeting today, the BCB chief discussed their differences with the COA.

"The COA put forth their point on what their concerns on revenue model and governance structure are while we also told them why we are supporting a few issues and not all. We would meet again and want more countries to join us," he concluded.