DHAKA: In a late development on Monday night, the BCCI, CA and ECB wrote to the ICC asking that the discussions on the proposal referring to the restructuring of the ICC`s administration and financial distribution model be deferred.
After Cricket South Africa called the proposed revamp "fundamentally flawed", this is the first official sign of disagreement about the nature of the document and the speed with which it is being pushed through by the three boards - the BCCI, Cricket Australia and the ECB - which are behind it.
The three opposing boards are seeking more time to look through and internally discuss the radical changes being recommended in the "position paper".
It is now understood that one of the three boards had originally sought a deferral as early as January 24. A fourth member board while not using the word "delay" or "deferral" have formally asked for "further discussions" on the matter.
The BCCI, Cricket Australia and the ECB were expected to present, to the other Full Members, a set of re-drafted "resolutions" around their radical "position paper" at the ICC meeting in Dubai on Tuesday.
The Big Three had been involved in aggressive lobbying on the sidelines for the past two days on sidelines of the ICC`s Finance & Commercial Affairs committee meeting.
The fact that it asks for far-reaching changes in administrative structures, financial distribution and the creation of an entirely new commercial wing of the ICC could require a "special meeting" to pass what the ICC`s constitution refers to as a "special resolution".
Most changes in the executive board require a minimum of seven boards to be in agreement, significant constitutional changes - which the proposals are recommending in executive and financial matters - require eight votes.
To get a special resolution passed, eight out of the 10 Full Members will need to back the proposal according to the ICC Constitution.
Cricket`s formally-united Big Three - the BCCI, Cricket Australia and the ECB - will present the seven other Full Member nations with a set of re-drafted "resolutions" around their radical "position paper" at an ICC executive meeting in Dubai on Tuesday.
The resolutions - five in number - were being talked through the first official meeting of the Finance & Commercial Affairs (F&CA) committee after its "working group" - made up of the heads of the BCCI, Cricket Australia and the ECB - came up with the proposal in a 21-page document that called for a complete overhaul of the ICC`s administration and its revenue distribution.
The first of the proposals to be watered down is expected to be the one pertaining to a two-tier format for Test cricket and the relegation of the bottom two ranked into the ICC Intercontinental Cup.
The other proposal which could be reworked pertains to a newly formed Executive Committee (ExCo) and it`s possible expansion from four to five, with a second nominee coming in from the "small seven," as opposed to only one according to the draft position paper.
There could be some radical changes to international cricket if the ICC Board accepts the proposals.
One board chief said the BCCI, ECB and Cricket Australia had been "surrounding people, taking them in, we`ll give you this, we`ll give you that."
Another said that BCCI led the majority of such discussions, their offers being enhanced with every meeting, "Individually they call every board and offer them something each time."
The only vocal objector to the proposal, Cricket South Africa, has been left out of these discussions and the benefits being offered to the rest of the boards. The main negotiations took place on governance issues with FTP agreements - particularly those pertaining to tours by India - being used as "bait". The resolutions, first expected to be presented in a list of 50-plus points, were later gathered together under five categories.
The main boards involved in the talks are the three Asian boards - the PCB, SLC and BCB - who have been left mulling over their options due to various reasons. There has been public protest in Bangladesh, including a crowd gathering of close to 3000 in Dhaka on Saturday, over the possibility of their cricket board ceding Bangladesh`s Test match status and calendar in the face of the proposals.
A senior Bangladeshi cricket official said, "It is a big thing, (to us) this status. In 13 years, Bangladesh has managed to win four Test matches. India and New Zealand did not win their first Test till 30 years.
So, how come these people are now telling Bangladesh that you will need to fight out in the I-Cup to retain your Test status." Should the relegation issue be diluted from the resolutions, the Big Three may find the leverage they need with the BCB.
Former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga said accepting the proposal would take smaller countries back to the skewed international calendars of the 1980s. "From 1987 to 1990 in four years Sri Lanka played just seven Tests. After that, ICC`s Future Tour Programme ensured that there were equal opportunities for all countries. The proposed system will take smaller nations like Sri Lanka to the situation in 1980s."
Source: espncricinfo
BDST: 1510 HRS, JAN 28, 2014
