BCCI Keeps The Threat Of Pulling Out From Champions Trophy Open, Plans To Skip The Deadline To Announce Squad

In an attempt to flex its muscles in the ICC meet, the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) has decided to miss the April 25th deadline for announcing the Champions Trophy squad. This is being done to keep the threat of pulling out of the ICC tournament open.

BCCI’s discontentment over the new revenue structure will be the main point of discussion when the cricketing boards of all Test playing nations gather to meet ICC at Dubai. The reform will be finalised through a voting system on April 27th.

“There is nothing called deadline in today’s cricket. There is enough time to go for the Champions trophy,” a top BCCI official told India Today.

The ICC will not be taking the threat lightly as BCCI, in fact, has the right to pull out of the tournament. The Members Participation Agreement (MPA) that gives BCCI the right to pull out of the tournament in case of disagreement.

While cricketing boards of Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, and Pakistan seem to be in full agreement, India along with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have their reservations.

A month ago, the BCCI sent an 11-pagge letter ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson in which they reject the proposed financial structure and constitutional reforms. The Indian board also stated that it may take the legal route if the MPA right are denied.

The letter states: “The proposed new ICC Constitution and financial model will if adopted, entitle us to exercise certain rights under the MPA and also to avail remedies under applicable law. We trust the ICC will reconsider the proposed new ICC constitution and financial models in light of provisions of the MPA so that we do not have to consider exercising our rights and remedies in relation to the MPA, which are expressly reserved. Please communicate our stand to ICC for information and necessary action.”

The Committee of Administrators (COA), however, seems to be not in full support of the BCCI approach of dealing with ICC.

“All I can say is I will go by the advice given to me by BCCI’s general body,” Amitabh Choudhary who has already reached Dubai for negotiations told India Today.