Mushrooming fly-by-night Cricket leagues cannibalising revenues

Several are are increasingly disregarding provisions, which if allowed to persist, could have a negative impact on ICC events and could potentially harm the IPL too

I state in the soon to be released updated, second edition of my book, Cricket World Cup: The Indian Challenge, that Indian successes on the field have occurred in spite of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), not because of it. Presently, who is running Indian cricket and how it is being managed is a mystery, with a Committee of Administrators, honorary officials and paid executives comprising a chaotic coalition and Supreme Court orders on reforms being flaunted with impunity. 

It is in such conditions that BCCI representatives attended this month’s International Cricket Council (ICC) meetings in Dubai. No sooner the participants returned to India, a story was planted in a section of news media that ICC wants to interfere in the Twenty20 Indian Premier League (IPL). The ICC’s view, though, appears to be quite the opposite. What it seems to be seeking is not amendments to the IPL or a role in running or supervising it. Nor for that matter is it looking to create a template for or uniformity among the various leagues, but an adherence to best practices in domestic tournaments which have international player inputs. 

ICC is concerned that the proliferation of Twenty20 leagues and now even 10-over blitzkriegs, some privately-operated, are beginning to infringe on the game’s central finances. The multiplicity of such tournaments is cannibalising advertisers and sponsors to the detriment of ICC events and could potentially harm the IPL, too, with fly-by-night tourneys diverting revenues.

One of the head honchos at the ICC emphasised the IPL is not a worry, because it complies with ICC mandated rules. But without naming any championship in particular, he said a number of them are increasingly disregarding provisions, which if allowed to persist, could have a negative impact on the sport.

The list of ICC’s complaints includes no proper enforcement of anti-corruption and anti-doping measures and players not being paid their dues. Yet, a portion of the advertising and sponsorship pie kept in in store for cricket by corporates is being sliced away. This means less of the cake for the ICC, affiliated boards and associations. IPL may not have felt the pinch yet; but if the copycats continue to run amok, it, too, might be affected. 

Therefore, what is recommended on the part of the BCCI is foresight and not a suspicious attitude. Collaboration with the ICC, an active involvement in the framing of guidelines for the league will ensure the outcome is to BCCI’s liking, rather than a situation where it is unfavourably out-voted. 

India-based companies contribute significantly to the ICC’s kitty. BCCI has over the years attempted to exploit this scenario to its advantage. This worked for a number of years until a fair and impartial Indian, entrusted with the chairmanship of the ICC, Shashank Manohar, put a spanner in the works. His first major stand was to oppose BCCI, England & Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Australia cornering the spoils from international cricket and restore a more even-handed distribution of profits.  

Last week, BCCI’s demand to isolate Pakistan in world cricket was also rejected. Such a petty, political move should never have been initiated. It was bound to explode on BCCI’s face; and it predictably did. It is the Indian government’s prerogative not to engage in bilateral sporting relations with Pakistan. At the same time, it would be befitting of BCCI not to be a yes-man of the central government and instead impress upon South Block what are advisable and feasible and what are not. 

Given the dishevelled state of cricket administration in India, the BCCI is cutting an uncertain picture of itself at ICC forums. Its representatives are said to lack authority and clarity. I daresay this will continue until and unless the Supreme Court takes drastic action against BCCI and its affiliates for contempt of court.