News Sports Cricket International players' chief lashes ICC reforms

International players' chief lashes ICC reforms

Melbourne, Australia: Cricket's most powerful players representative says planned reforms of world cricket will widen the gap between the sport's big three and smaller nations, undermining the competitiveness of the international game.Paul Marsh, head of


The proposed reforms would likely see the revision or abandonment of the Future Tours Program which guarantees smaller nations regular series against the big three sides.

“The proposals relating to scheduling are disturbing,” Marsh said.

“Of significance is the section that offers a guarantee from Cricket Australia and the ECB to play three tests and five ODIs per cycle to each of the top eight members, yet there is no mention of any such guarantee from the BCCI.”

Marsh said all ICC member nations, including Australia and England, rely heavily on proceeds from India tours for the sustainability of the sport in their country.

“What chance do the majority of members have of survival if the BCCI decides not to tour their countries on at least a semi-regular basis?” he said.

Marsh also raised concerns about the proposal's recommendation that revenues be distributed to ICC members on a pro-rata basis, “based on commercial contribution.”