Pakistan to oppose changes in ICC's governance model

Miffed with the changes being proposed in the ICC's administrative structure, the Pakistan Cricket Board said it will oppose any overhaul that will cede executive decision-making to India, Australia and England.

A draft proposal on these lines will be presented to the ICC Executive Board during its quarterly meeting in Dubai on January 28 and 29.

A member of the PCB governing board said that at a meeting on Saturday in Lahore, the members made it clear to reinstated chairman Zaka Ashraf that the draft proposal should be opposed strongly at the ICC meeting.

"The governing board was firm that this was a very sensitive issue for Pakistan and the PCB should go to the ICC meeting well-prepared to give strong arguments against the proposed changes," the member said.

"The governing board made it clear that the draft proposal basically would divide the world cricket order and Pakistan should not accept any position in the lower tier," he added.

He said the governing board has authorised Ashraf to use all possible means to convince the ICC against going ahead with the changes.

Another source disclosed that the chairman was asked to contact the other Boards which will be affected by the proposed changes and ensure a unified stance at the ICC meeting.

"The PCB chief has been advised to form a unified stance on the matter with South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies before the ICC meeting," he informed.

The proposal, drafted by a "working group" of the ICC's Finance & Commercial Affairs (F&CA) committee, in which the BCCI, CA and ECB are key members, recommends wide-ranging changes in the ICC's revenue distribution model, administrative structures and the Future Tours Programme.

It questions the relevance of Test rankings and suggests the reinstatement of the Champions Trophy over the World Test Championship. Almost every recommendation of the "position paper" gives a larger share of control over world cricket to the Australian, English and Indian cricket boards -- both in the boardroom and on the field. 

Image: Zaka Ashraf