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The ICC … Incredibly Inept Council

If you have read my previous posts about the International Cricket Council, you will be aware that my opinion of cricket’s governing body equates to a certain proverb about ‘piss-ups’ and breweries. I am not a great fan, in fact I think Sir Alex Ferguson would have more time for a group of Scousers in Munich!

I am not sure, at times, whether they are corrupt or just horribly incompetent. I just find it convenient that certain International Cricket Boards, with financial backing, seem able to affect scheduling, sponsorship, broadcasting and even rules. I am not here to debate the point, rather to muse, but I will draw your attention to a few items of interest and welcome comments in return:-

• The Television Referral Rule – trial, stop, trial, rewrite … and still farcical to see the amount of poor decisions (Remember Mr Harper?)
• Developing nations … does anyone believe that there is enough investment?
• Surely Hansie Cronje, Salim Malik and Mohammed Azharrudin are not the only players involved in what the ICC once described as an epidemic of corruption?
• How do they allow Mr Modi to set a schedule for his ‘Champions’ League’ that makes it impossible for the clubs of certain nations to attend … not to mention give the same gentleman the opportunity to ban a club on the basis that one of their players happened to appear in the rival ICL?
• The ICC prevents its paying customers from taking a can of Coca-Cola into a stadium because the tournament is sponsored by Pepsi … I’m surprised they did not confiscate my iPhone during last year’s T20, given the sponsorship of LG, and maybe you will be unable to pay for a UEFA Champions’ League ticket with a Visa Card given Mastercard’s sponsorship.
• Two T20 World Cups in 10 months … great planning?

Actually in the final case, I can almost defend the ICC. The ICC Champions’ Trophy, held biannually, was scheduled for September 2008 in Pakistan, and April 2010 in the Caribbean. The 2008 Champions’ Trophy was cancelled due to security concerns, and held in South Africa in September 2009.

The World T20 was first held in South Africa in 2007, and again in England in 2009. The ICC’s revenue inspired decision to hold a replacement Champions’ Trophy in South Africa last year created a problem for them:

How do we have two Champions’ Trophies in 6 months??

Of course, they ingeniously decided to have two World T20s in 10 months instead and utterly devalue the tournament … Einstein! Was it not the simple option to cancel the 2008 Champions’ Trophy tournament as opposed to fitting it into an already crowded schedule? No, we shall create a complicated and unworkable itinerary, not that our cricketers have enough travelling and matches on the agenda.

Are these masterminds really the guardians of our great game? Let me look up the definition of the word guardian:-

Guardian n. One that guards, watches over, or protects

Oh the irony!! A definition of money or weakness may be more appropriate. I find myself asking who exactly runs cricket? The ICC, The BCCI, Modi? I am not about to comment about current allegations about corruption surrounding Modi and the IPL because it would be wrong to make judgement until investigations are complete. However, he has continually struck me as a man very fond of his own publicity and with his pockets closer to heart than the interests of cricket.

The best Chief Executives and Administrators are those of whom you hear little, and this is not applicable to Lalit Modi. In fact, the biggest advocates of the IPL seem to be those whose pockets are lined by it, whether they be players, broadcasters or Franchisees.

I have enjoyed watching the IPL, and am thoroughly looking forward to the ICC World T20 starting next week in my home country of Guyana. Simply, I love cricket, and watching it. However, apart from in England, has anyone seen a full house at a Test Match this year?

I have watched test cricket broadcasts from every corner of the globe during the past winter, and the common denominator has been empty seats, even in the passionate hotbed of India. Of course, you may recall there were empty seats throughout the ICC World Cup 2007 … and lo behold, the ticket pricing was at the behest of the ICC and not of the local Caribbean Authorities, and unsurprisingly, the locals could not afford it.

If this has been a vitriolic rant against the International Cricket Council, I make no apology. I am not privy to their dialogue or meetings, but there have been too many shambolic issues in the sport to consider it coincidence. You reap what you sow, and the powers of this great sport risk losing its heritage in a drive for revenue. I am all for progress but the cost of progress must be considered.