Published: Jul 02, 2011, 04:41 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 27, 2014, 11:52 AM (IST)
By CricketCountry Staff
Tuesday, the world rejoiced and bloggers eulogized in unison, as the ICC announced that Associate nations would be reinstated for the 2015 World Cup.
As in this year’s edition, there will once again be 14 teams in four years’ time. In some respects, I’m glad that the ICC reversed their decision – it’s a positive sign that they listened to the overwhelming discontent from fans.
However, 14 teams are impractical, and makes for a bloated World Cup with diluted quality. I’m surprised that so many people give the impression that they’re ‘looking forward’ to seeing the Associates play again in 2015…after all, the same people couldn’t watch Canada vs Kenya this time around. And I doubt that many will bother in 2015 either.
Regardless, for a fleeting moment, it seemed like a magnanimous “Let them eat cake” gesture from the ICC.
Next year’s T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka would have been a perfect opportunity to give the Associates a chance on the big stage. T20 is perfect for the Associates. A shorter format means that they are more likely to be competitive – and it’s worth keeping in mind that the essence of a competition is to actually remain ‘competitive’.
However, the BCCI – formerly known as ‘The ICC’ – have immediately undone any positive groundwork, by reducing the number of T20 teams from 16 to just 12. It is entirely illogical to have less teams in the T20 World Cup than the 50-over edition.
First the ICC giveth, then it taketh away: Their stupidity is dumbfounding, and I find it hard to fathom the ill logic that has pervaded cricket’s second-most important organisation.
The saddest thing is that the ICC’s stupidity is not even vaguely surprising. When people like Ijaz Butt and Giles Clarke are in charge of cricket in their respective countries, what else should we expect?!
This annual conference – held in that age-old bastion of cricket, Hong Kong – is a critical point for the ICC. With allegations of corruption surrounding far too many executives in the ICC, and blatant incompetence there for all to see, the ICC is heading down the same route as FIFA.
Any semblance of governance and accountability within the cricketing fraternity has been systematically destroyed, thanks to: the Stanford debacle, Cricket South Africa’s financial irregularities, political interference in Sri Lanka, WICB/player disputes, Ijaz Butt’s tragicomic incompetence, and many more.
The icing on the cake came when Sharad Pawar, an Indian politician, became ICC President. This is the same man described by revered social activist Anna Hazare as “having corruption flowing through his veins.”
Of course, the allegations of corruption within the ICC are just allegations…but there is no smoke without fire. Certainly, the sheer incompetence and self-serving nature of board members is there for all to see, and cannot be argued.
The ICC is nothing short of an embarrassment, an absolute disgrace to the game of cricket. If the ICC was an accountable organisation, countless votes of no-confidence would have been passed, and most board members would have been sacked. But whilst there is endemic cronyism and back-patting, this is but a cricket fan’s distant fantasy.
Most concerning is the now inevitable decision to scrap the rotational system for ICC President. Sure, to have a pure meritocracy would be great in theory, but in reality, the BCCI are twisting arms all over the shop. Whoever becomes president (after the decision becomes final this October) will be a lame duck, a BCCI puppet. Essentially giving India total control over international affairs – that is, during the ‘off-years’ when an Indian President decides to take a blow.
The ICC will become even more of a dictatorship than it already is.
I suppose that it’s a tragedy, but this situation is reflected in plenty of other sports organisations, where executives have relatively cushy jobs, and are paid princely sums for sipping on cocktails in far-flung places. After all, just a few hours ago, these fat-cats were enjoying a cocktail party in a plush hotel in Hong Kong.
Well, Mr Pawar, I hope that your virgin Pina Colada tastes mighty fine, while you leave the Associates, fans, and the spirit of the game itself, out to rot in the street.
(This article is reproduced with permission from AlternativeCricket.com. AlternativeCricket is currently developing a scholarship for young Afghan cricketers. You can follow them on Facebook (facebook.com/alternativecricket) and Twitter (twitter.com/altcricket)
