Sports Reporter

THERE have been mixed feelings over the Big three’s (England, Australia and India) proposed revamp of the International Cricket Council (ICC) structure over the past week.
The ‘Big three’, proposed a new structure that will see several changes being effected on the finance, structure and Future Tour Programmes of the ICC.
Former ICC president Ehsan Mani predicted the changes will mean a US$300 million loss of revenue to Associates and Affiliates of the ICC, but the incumbent ICC president David Richardson feels otherwise.
Speaking at the end of the ICC board meeting in Dubai,Richardson said the new structure will favour the Associates and Affiliates instead and does not leave them with small budgets.
The issue is still under debate, but there are some proposals that have been unanimously agreed by all members last Tuesday as outlined.
l There will be an opportunity for all members to play all formats of cricket on merit, with participation based on meritocracy; no immunity to any country, and no change to membership status.
l A Test Cricket Fund paid equally on an annual basis to all full members (except the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board) will be introduced to encourage and support Test match cricket.
l A larger percentage from the increasing Associate Members’ surplus will be distributed to the higher performing non-Full Members.
l Mutually agreed bi-lateral FTP Agreements which will be legally binding and bankable and will run for the same period as the ICC commercial rights cycle (2015-2023).
l Recognition of the need for strong leadership of the ICC, involving leading Members, which will involve BCCI taking a central leadership responsibility.
l A need to recognise the varying contribution of Full Members to the value of ICC events through the payment of ‘contribution costs’.
l The establishment of an Executive Committee (ExCo) and Financial & Commercial Affairs Committee (F&CA) to provide leadership at an operational level, with five members, including BCCI, CA and ECB representatives. Anybody from within the Board can be elected to Chair the Board and anybody from within ExCo and F&CA can be elected to Chair those Committees. With the ICC undergoing a transitional period that includes a new governance structure and media rights cycle, this leadership will be provided for two years from June 2014 by: a BCCI representative to Chair the ICC Board, a CA representative to Chair the ExCo and an ECB representative to Chair the F&CA.
l A new company will be incorporated to tender future commercial rights for ICC events. There will be three major ICC events in each four-year cycle, including the ICC Champions Trophy which will replace the ICC World Test Championship.
l ICC will utilise a more efficient operating model for all ICC events, with a simplified accounting model across ICC income and expenditure to help better manage ICC administrative and event costs.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Cricket are yet to comment on the proposals whether they will benefit ZC which has its won share of problem.
ZC where represented by Peter Chingoka at the two-day board meeting.