Hope ICC's revenue sharing model will be reviewed: CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat

Bengaluru: Cricket South Africa's Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat is "hopeful" that the 'revenue sharing model' of ICC "will be reviewed" as he would be keenly watching what BCCI president Shashank Manohar brings to the table when he takes over world cricket's governing body.

Asked about the ‘revenue sharing model, wherein India, England and Australia get lion's share of the profits, Lorgat gave his take on the issue.

"I think that's something (existing revenue sharing model) that was agreed upon but I hope that it is something that will be reviewed in near future. Let's see what Mr (Shashank) Manohar brings in terms of his vision for the ICC going forward and we will take it when he comes. I hope it would be reviewed," Lorgat, who is in the city to watch the second Test, told PTI during an exclusive interaction.

Lorgat, a former ICC Chief Executive didn't exactly have a smooth working relationship with former BCCI boss and current ICC chairman N Srinivsan.

It was under Srinivasan's directive that the controversial 'position paper' was tabled with 'Big Three' running the show in terms of commercial gains.

Asked if he expects things to change, Lorgat said that he believes in moving forward. "We have got a dispensation at the moment and the past doesn't matter and we will have to see how we can improve in future," the CSA top boss said.

Lorgat said that he hasn't met Manohar after he took over as the Indian Cricket Board's president but planned to meet him. "I have not met Mr Manohar but I plan to meet him. Let me see when I can meet him," Lorgat said.

He further stated that the relationship with BCCI "has been re-established" after the acrimony, which led to India playing a curtailed 2 Tests and 3 ODIs series in South Africa, back in 2013.

"The relationship has been re-established a while back. Let's see what happens in the future," Lorgat said.

The CSA Chief Executive said that both India and South Africa have agreed to play each other, once in every two years, in each other's countries. "Bilateral series is decided between the two member countries and we have agreed to this content till 2023. So every two years, we will play each other in each other's countries. We have agreed that this content will have four Tests, five one-dayers and three T20s, will be played between the two nations in either countries," he said.

Lorgat believes that Test matches still have their own charm as everyone loves the format. "It's important that we play Test matches because we all love the format and we want to grow the format. I think four-Test series between India and South Africa is attractive to the fans, to players and everybody. It is always good to play four-Test series," the senior administrator said.

For him, a series against India for any Test playing nation is lucrative as revenues earned is significant but what makes an India versus South Africa series important is the relationship between the countries.

"It is a substantial part of all the countries' revenues. Besides the revenue part, we have got a long-standing relationship (with India). You can see how the fans love it. And that's what is important," he said.

Lorgat also welcomed the idea of Indian cricketers playing in the Ram Slam T20 (SA version of IPL), if they are allowed by their board.

"Well, any player from anywhere over the world is welcome to play Ram Slam. We have got our own regulations applied as to how many from overseas can play in each franchise and we would love to see Indian cricketers play in South Africa," he concluded.

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