ICC board to pass structural changes despite BCCI opposition

Dubai: The majority of the ICC board members Saturday voted in favour of restructured revenue sharing model despite vehement opposition from the BCCI representative Vikram Limaye.

According to highly placed sources, India only got support from Sri Lanka while Zimbabwe abstained when the matter was put to floor test. Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, England and Australia all voted in favour of change in revenue distribution as well as change in governance structure.

The ICC board on Saturday met to discuss the changes pertaining to revenue model where India, England and Australia were supposed to get the major share of revenue as the 'Big Three' – a move that was opposed by other Test playing nations, and also by England and Australia themselves.

On Saturday, Limaye who had the first look at the official 'base document', expressed his apprehension terming it a model based on "faith and equity".

"I had clearly told board that I cannot support the official base document which is based on faith and equity. The members and chairman were sympathetic that we have just taken charge and I would need time to study the document," Limaye told PTI from Dubai.

"The chairman Mr (Shashank) Manohar said that they have been waiting for months. The matter was put to vote and I have voted against these changes. It has been recorded in the minutes. It won't be appropriate for me to say who all voted in favour," Limaye said.

The ICC will pass the resolution during it's April board meeting.

While the BCCI is expected to still gain more than Rs. 2000 crore, it can be surely said that commercial hub of cricket faced stiff opposition from the majority of the board members.

While seasoned investment banker Limaye in between now and April can spot the anomalies in official base document, it is unlikely that the ICC board led by Manohar would accept those changes.