World cricket body’s revenue model threatens the growth of the game, say smaller nations

New Delhi — Cricket’s cash-starved associate member nations fear the proposed new international revenue distribution model, which heavily favours the game’s superpowers, could stall the growth of the game.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has proposed a new revenue-sharing model for the 2024-27 cycle to be voted on at its July board meeting in Durban.

According to figures leaked to Cricinfo, cricket’s financial engine India alone would claim 38.5%, primarily in recognition of its contribution to the commercial revenue pot. The 12 full members of the ICC would collectively take 88.81% with the rest distributed among 94 associate members.

The ICC has not commented on the figures, though GM Wasim Khan said on Monday all members would get more money under the proposed model than in the past.

Pakistan has already made clear its opposition to the model in its current shape and resentment is rumbling among other, less developed, cricketing nations.

Sumod Damodar, one of the three associate member representatives on the ICC chief executives’ committee, said the proposal would not meet the needs of associate members. “If what is being proposed and discussed is likely to be the outcome then, as an associate member representative, I would be [disappointed],” he said.

“There are numerous practical reasons why it would be inadequate for associate members.”

Damodar, vice-chairman of Botswana’s board, said associate members who have earned one-day international (ODI) status need more money to sustain their high-performance programmes, while the others need cash to bridge the gap.

Citing the rapid rise of Nepal in men’s cricket and Thailand in the women’s game, Damodar said more countries would step up if they were given the required financial support.

Vanuatu Cricket Association CEO Tim Cutler said the proposed model would only accentuate the inequality between cricket’s haves and have-nots.

“The new model is now even more heavily weighted towards the bigger cricketing nations, and there is a risk that the proposed changes will exacerbate this imbalance, putting the future of the game at further risk,” Cutler said.

“The sad reality is, cricket will not grow beyond its current corners of the world … if the allocation of the game’s global funds aren’t more equally allocated with a view to actually growing the game.”

With full members having 12 of the 17 votes on the ICC board, Cutler said diverting funds away from themselves, or making independent decisions for the good of the game, would be like “turkeys voting for Christmas”.

The ICC did not respond to a request for comment when asked about the concerns of the associate members.

Former ICC president Ehsan Mani said there is a lack of vision at the governing body in its approach to developing cricketing nations, despite the huge commercial potential of some.

“One of the biggest risks for global cricket is its overdependence on one country, India, for a major part of the revenues generated,” the former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman said. For Mani, India grabbing the lion’s share of ICC revenues “makes no sense” and he advocated equal shares for all full members.

“World cricket needs a strong West Indies, SA, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan,” he added. “Cricket in Zimbabwe has suffered due to lack of funds, as have Ireland and Afghanistan. Lack of investment in some of these countries will make the game unsustainable and world cricket will be poorer for it.”

“Countries like the US and the Middle East and, in the longer term, China would bring enormous benefits to the ICC, its members and the global game. World cricket would be stronger and richer for it.”

Reuters