Cricket

BLACK CRICKET MATTERS

Global Cricket Governance body with 104 members is composed of 92 Associate members who are divided geographically into 5 zones like Africa, America, Asia, EAP-East Asia Pacific and Europe, as displayed below.

 

Africa -     19 Associate Members and 2 Full Members

 

America - 16 Associate Members and 1 Full Member

 

Asia -       16 Associate Members and 5 Full Members

 

EAP -        9 Associate Members and 2 Full Members

 

Europe -   32 Associate Members and 2 Full Members

 

12 Full members are  Directors of the highest decision making body called ICC Board along with other 5 nominated / elected directors.

 

These 12 Full Members are probably generating the 99% of revenues for ICC; where as direct financial contribution of other near 90% members are very much insignificant.

 

As it can be very clearly observed that Europe is established as the leading flag bearer of Global Associates, nearly 35% of global Associates belong to 32 Countries of Europe. Of course no one need the guidance of J P Morgan  to foresee that biggest bulge of global Associate Funding could clearly be estimated in favor of European cricketing nations.

 

Ironically "popularity" dichotomy of the European Cricket  identical to  (un)safety pin  kissing open a big balloon tied on the tallest Flag pole of Europe Cricket.

 

Let us scrutinize to enlighten the readers about existing farce in the name of Big-Bang Cricket popularity of Europe 

 

a) Among top revenue group of 10 European Associate countries, from Netherlands to Sweden, 3 are Crown-dependency / part of UK namely Jersey, Guernsey and Scotland.  Other 07 countries are having cricket foundation under the strong influence of majority-participants from South Asian origins. Their national teams are doing well with players basically are of  Pakistanis, Afghans and Indian origins. 

 

b) Among middle revenue group of 12  European Associates starting from Belgium to Cyprus, other than Greece with  certain local participants as well balanced participants between South Asians and British origins in Crown-dependency Gibraltar, all other 10 countries thoroughly enjoy the overwhelming participation of Indians, Pakistanis,  Sri-Lankan, Afghans and Bangladeshis to give continuity of domestic and international crickets, in absence of significant local participants.

 

c) Among low revenue group of 10 European Associates starting from Russia to Croatia with  lack of enthusiasm among locals like most of other European countries, the Cricket playing activity is highly dependent to South Asian ex-pats and for some, like Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia,  British and Australian also find it interesting as a weekend pass-time. 

 

Without any reservation it is absolutely transparent within a very conservative point of view that close to 90% of 32 European Associate Member Countries overwhelmingly enjoy the passion, dedication and upholding of National Cricket flags with the help and support of  Sri-Lankan, Pakistanis, Indians and Bangladeshis origin players in their respective European Associate countries.   

This is assimilated beyond any shadow of perplexed thoughts that without such spontaneous contribution by South Asian communities residing in these European Associated member countries, Cricket would have remained as an encrypted scriptology.

Even among  American Associate members  Countries like Bahama with West Indies influence and Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Canada, USA etc.having strong participation of players from South Asian origin Cricketer as the principal backbone of domestic and International Cricket. 

 

Except Namibia, all most all Africa Associate members are continuing with majority-community African players for Domestic and International activities. 

 

EAP  and Asia Associate members are also predominantly participated by maximum own regional players like Africa.

 

In resumed reflection one can have a clear picture of ICC  Associate Members participant status, Zone-wise, as follow:

• Africa Associates -    Predominantly played by African origins
• America Associates - Predominantly played by South Asian origins and certain percentage countries from West Indies area.
• Asia Associates -       Predominantly played by Asian origins
• EAP Associates  -      Predominantly played by Country of origins
• Europe Associates -  Predominantly played by South Asian origins

 

The Board of Directors, top decision making body of ICC have already placed the policies, to be applied and regulated by Board approved committees aimed to serve 92 Associate members to the best possible ways to develop cricket globally.  One of the most important committees is Development Committee (DC) which acts under the Terms of Reference approved by Board and it (DC) supervises through ICC managers/staff of Development Department (DD).

 

The functional characters in Development Committee  are constituted by a total of 10 members; 7 elected Associate members and 3 nominated full members from Board. The Development committee is often guided and opined by the professionals of ICC Development managers and staff. 

 

The functional liberty attributed by board to Development Committee is shepherd under Terms of References maintaining scrupulously, compliance of various policies, from time to time as recommended by Committee and approved by the Board. All for the benefit and development of Cricket in Global Arena by the Associates. 

 

Evidently, faith and trust of Board on its appointed structures for the service of Associate members are total. For the sake of good uninterrupted governance it is expected that Development Committee and Development Department will rise above any ambiguity and for such, Development Committee and Development Department will  accomplish the objective harmoniously enduring necessary check & balances for ideal outcome, i.e. Global Cricket Development.

 

Regrettably many stakeholders are highly disillusioned on certain tendency, intention, accountability & productivity of DC & DD. Without embracing for detail suggestive information to sustain the disillusion, it is indisputable to arrive into conclusion that European Cricket is restricted within Asian community under the camouflaged name and fame as European achievements. 

 

This is worth for recapitulation that all achievements are recognized and met with financial benefit and reward, stipulated for Global Associate Developments. We gather from our reliable sources that annual budget for Associates are around 30 million USD.

 

Upon completion, here I am listing the composition of actual members of Development Committee and Development Department for the knowledge of the readers and to draw own conclusion about it. 

 

Development Committee : 

7 Associate Members, namely,

1) Mr. Imran Khwaja, ( Singapore , Asian Origin) Chairman of Committee.

2) Mr. Mahinda Vallipuram ( Malaysia, Asian Origin),

3) Sumod Damodar ( Botswana, Asian Origin),

4) Tony Brian ( Scotland, British Origin),

5) Mr. Neil Speight ( Bermuda, British Origin),

6) Mr. Mark Stafford ( Vanuatu ,Australian/British Origin),

7) Mr. Matt Featherstone ( Brazil, British Origin) 

 

Development Department:

1) Mr. William Glenwright ( Gen. Manager, Australian / British origin ),

2) Mr. Andy Hobbs ( Senior Manager, British origin),

3) Callum Davies ( Adm. Officer, British origin. )

Some disgruntled stakeholders express the frustration by saying " The ICC Development Committee is the tenant in the palace of Development Department......." because of inadequacy of accountability of employees.  Anyway, we do not believe it.  Do you?