Cricket

Associates - Don't kill own Future : Vote wisely

Extraordinarily the Man who had been main designer for Associates to get voting rights in ICC Board and drafted assured articles in ICC constitution has been allegedly betrayed by the same Associates used the very gangway to hoist themselves as ICC Associate Director, just to vote against him. 

 

Such acts not started with Ahithophel's "tribute" to King David or Benedict Arnold "love" for George Washington and surely will not end, as I said when 2 Associate Directors had voted against an Associate aspirant for ICC chairman election in last month. 

 

it's a history now and let us concentrate in ICC Associate Director’s election, knocking at the door. 

 

In a simple gross thumbs rule, 75% of ICC fundings are for 12 full members and 25% for 92 Associates. 

 

There can not be any doubt that Full members generate maximum revenue for ICC and consequently & arguably they are entitled for biggest chunk. 

 

It has been a gradual process through various resolutions under Shashank Manohar, last ICC Chairman to bring minimal rational equilibrium on distribution of fund for ICC Full members and Associate members with the sole purpose to make Cricket genuinely a Global Sports. 

 

It is not a fairy tale and there can not be smoke without fire that like constitution amendment of 2014 (revoked and corrected afterwards), at present some powerful Board members want return of similar type of extra privileged revenue for the countries who are generating more funds. 

 

Without going into details, apparently there are no harms for big contributor Full members to receive more fund than other full members. 

 

However this has to be in a logical and rational process and most importantly 92 Associate members should not be prejudiced and should maintain at least same status or better because Estimated Total Revenue of ICC for the cycle of 8 years already forecasted and running, and policies of gross distribution of funds are already determined, calculated and approved by Board under former chairman Shashank Manohar - for Full members "Pool" and Associate members "pool" respectively. 

 

Question is, if the "Big boys" want more fund for their respective boards and want to change the approved funding policies, obviously following chain of actions and reactions are expected to be happenings: 

 

1. "Big boys" will readjust their revenue from Full members       pool and to do that fund will be altered  from other full members.

2. Other full members under no circumstances will agree to sacrifice their revenues unless it is compensated from other funds or reserve of ICC . 

3. One of the principals and other ICC fund is allocated and projected for Associate members and can be adjusted through new ICC Board resolution. 

 

Under new Constitution ICC Board has 17 voting Directors. 12 Full member Directors, 3 Associate member Directors, 1 independent Director and an Independent Chairperson.

 

To pass resolution 2/3rd majority is needed and to oppose successfully require 7 votes. 

 

Let us conceptualize 3 worse scenario for future Associate fundings: 

a. Associate member fundings are reduced because Full member fundings increased.

b. Associate member fundings are reduced because of revenue loss for pandemic but full member fundings remain same or increased due to additional revenues from bilateral FTPs 

c. Associate member fundings are reduced due to one of or both above reasons but Specific Associate members are to be benefitted from additional project grants. 

 

There is only one solution for Associate members not to accept any acts prejudicial for them if their representatives, 3 Associate Directors along with other sympathetic nonpartisan full members join to object the new unacceptable resolution with 7 votes. 

 

In the last month ICC Chairman election, Associate candidate Imran Khwaja received 5 votes in the final of 2nd round election, including his own. 

 

Two Associate Directors didn’t vote him. 

 

Therefore it can be safely assumed that Imran Khwaja has a valuable support of minimum 5 votes as an Associate Director cum Chairman of Associate members. 

 

Now at present synopsis and probabilities, considering unparalleled and unprecedented leadership shown by Imran Khwaja as an Associate Director for last 12 years, he is undoubtedly the number 1 front runner in coming Associate Director election but he needs 2 trustworthy elected Associate Directors, unconditionally loyal to Associate memberships and his leadership to defend the interest of 92 Members in the highest governing body of ICC. 

 

I compiled information from my sources about the list of possible Associate candidates for election and sharing my observation as shown blow: 

 

1. Imran Khwaja - Current Associate Director and uncontested leader of Associates. 

 

2. Tony Brian - Current Associate Director and allegedly DID NOT VOTE IMRAN KHWAJA IN ICC CHAIRMAN ELECTION.

 

3. Mahinda Vallipuram - Current Associate Director and allegedly DID NOT VOTE IMRAN KHWAJA IN ICC CHAIRMAN ELECTION.

 

4. Neil Speight - Former Associate Director for 8 years, current CEC member and one of the most competent and effective Cricket administrator specially in the finance area. Former member of ICC Finance Committee.  A man without any controversy and absolutely loyal to Associate causes and to Imran Khwaja. 

 

5. Prof. Adam Yahaya - New candidate, President of Nigeria Cricket Board. University Professor and famous surgeon. Well respected Cricket administrator and Vice Chairman of Africa Cricket Association. Made huge difference in Cricket rise of Nigeria. 

 

6. Mark Stafford - Unsuccessfully Several time contested for Board earlier and current member of CEC. Controversy is his constant follower but known as an Imran’s loyalist. 

 

7. Pankaj Khimji - Unsuccessfully contested for Board earlier. Long experience in national Cricket Administration and member of Executive Committee of Asian Cricket Council. Very friendly with ICC full member     " Big Boys".

 

Associate members, please vote wisely and do not kill own future.