'Sheer madness' to hand over ICC's power to 'Big Three': Mani

Former International Cricket Council president Ehsan Mani has warned cricket playing nations, saying it would be "sheer madness" for the ICC to hand over power to 'Big Three'-India, Australia and England.

It was announced after a board meeting in Dubai last month that a new five-member ICC executive committee would be established to include representatives from the ECB, Cricket Australia and the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Mani said BCCI, ECB and CA will benefit significantly in financial terms from their proposals and promote their own self-interests.

The current executive committee includes representatives from all 10 test-playing countries, and some suggest the new proposals will allow the 'Big Three' to take over at the expense of other cricketing nations, Sport24 reports.

Mani observed that the three boards said they will provide greater leadership and stability to the ICC and its Members in return for powers of the ICC Board. However, they failed to demonstrate how they will do this in any meaningful way.

Mani believes three of the 10 test-playing nations will reject the new proposals, and added that according to him South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan will not vote for the ICC revamp plan.