South Africa slams 'flawed' ICC plan
Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Monday slammed flawed International Cricket Council plan.
LONDON (AFP) - Cricket South Africa (CSA) became the first major national governing body Monday to call on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to withdraw a draft plan that would give greater control of the world game to their counterparts in England, Australia and India.
A "position paper" outlining the proposed changes is due to be discussed by the ICC s executive board next week.
But, ahead of that meeting, CSA president Chris Nenzani published an open letter to ICC president Alan Isaac urging that the "fundamentally flawed" plan be taken off the table.
One key proposal is for a four-man executive committee where the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Cricket Australia (CA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the three countries that bring most revenue into cricket, would all be guaranteed a place, with the other position selected by the trio annually.
On the field, there is also a suggestion of the creation of two divisions for Test cricket but with England, Australia and India all safe from regelation for the top flight because of their commercial importance.
The proposals need seven votes from the ICC s 10 leading nations to pass.
According to smore forecasts South Africa, currently the world s top-ranked Test side, could see their share of future revenue fall below that of Pakistan if the new set-up was adopted.
South Africa, however, were the first of the other seven leading countries to speak out against the scheme, with Nenzani labelling it "unconstitutional".
"Without addressing the merits of the proposal insofar as it concerns Constitutional amendments and changes to ICC competitions, these proposals should first be referred to the relevant ICC committees or sub-committees for proper consideration and to make recommendations to the ICC Board," his letter to New Zealand administrator Isaac said.
"Although there is nothing to prevent a review of the ICC funding model or finances, the proposal self-evidently is inextricably tied up with a fundamental restructuring of the ICC, which has far-reaching constitutional implications.
"The draft proposal is, therefore, fundamentally flawed as regards the process and, therefore, in breach of the ICC constitution.
"In the circumstances we propose that the draft proposal be withdrawn immediately given that the proper procedures have not been followed.
"In our respectful opinion, a more considered, inclusive/consultative, and properly constitutionally-ordained approach is required."
But not all boards from amongst the seven were as scathing, with New Zealand Cricket director Martin Snedden saying of the BCCI-CA-ECB plan: "Don t jump to the conclusion what they re doing is not good for world cricket."
The once close relationship between CSA and the BCCI appears to have declined markedly since former ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat took up a similar position with his home board in South Africa.
While at the ICC, Lorgat promoted a report by Lord Harry Woolf, a senior English judge, which advocated putting the ICC under the control of independent directors.
However, the report was shelved and Lorgat effectively forced out of the ICC, with the BCCI refusing to talk to him when India, in a late change of plan, announced a greatly reduced tour of South Africa last year.
