ICC Revise Financial Model and Agree on New Constitution

The International Cricket Council (ICC) concluded five days of Board and Committee meetings in Dubai with a number of decisions passed, including a revised financial model. In addition, agreement on a new constitution to be put before the ICC Full Council was also reached. 

Following the decision in February 2017 to reverse the 2014 resolutions, a revised financial model was presented to the Board and passed.

Based on current forecasted revenues and costs, BCCI will receive $293m across the eight year cycle, ECB $143m, Zimbabwe Cricket $94m and the remaining seven Full Members $132m each. Associate Members will receive funding of $280m. This model was passed 13 votes to one. 

A revised constitution was also approved by 12 votes to two. This takes into account the Board’s feedback following extensive discussion at the February meeting and further input from the working group.

It will now be presented to the ICC Full Council in June for adoption.

The Board also acknowledged the need to sustain and grow the number of members competing at the top level. 

ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar said: “This is another step forward for world cricket and I look forward to concluding the work at the Annual Conference. I am confident we can provide a strong foundation for the sport to grow and improve globally in the future through the adoption of the revised financial model and governance structure.

BCCI Announces Significant Pay Increases

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed substantial pay increases for its national team players.

Players in the top-ranked ‘Grade A’ bracket, which includes national team captain Virat Kohli, will receive an annual retainer amount of Rs20m (€283,000/$306,000) for the period ending September 20, 2017.

The figure represents an increase of Rs10m on last season. Kohli (pictured) is joined in Grade A by MS Dhoni, R Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja and Murali Vijay.

Players in the Grade B category will be paid Rs10m per annum, with Grade C players to be paid Rs5m each year

ICC Chairman Steps Down After Eight Months

Shashank Manohar has left his role as Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), eight months after taking the position.

The 59-year-old, who previously spent two spells in charge of the BCCI, was elected as the body's first independent chairman on a two-year term last May. However, he has stepped down from the role less than halfway into his deal.

Manohar said the decision was because of personal reasons, and handed in his resignation on Wednesday.

"I hope the ICC achieves greater heights in future," the Indian added

Oppo Becomes Indian Cricket Sponsor

The Indian arm of Chinese mobile manufacturer Oppo will become the main sponsor of the Indian national cricket team.

The five-year deal will run from April.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but Indian newspaper The Hindu, citing a BCCI source, said the amount Oppo will pay the body represents an all-time high.

Oppo will replace media group Star India as the national team’s main sponsor.

Star’s chairman and chief executive, Uday Shankar, last month confirmed that the company would not bid to retain shirt sponsorship rights amid the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the BCCI’s relationship with the ICC.

Virat Kohli Lands Lucrative Puma Deal

Virat Kohli, captain of the India cricket team, has signed an Indian record endorsement deal with German sportswear company Puma.

Kohli, whose deal with fellow German company Adidas recently expired, has signed an eight-year deal with Puma which is worth over Rs 110 crore.

The majority of the deal will be a fixed payment, with the remainder based on performance. Kohli will work with Puma to develop his own range of sports products as part of the deal.

The 28-year-old will work with Puma on advertising campaigns in markets in which cricket is popular, such as the UK, Australia, South Africa and the Middle East.

Puma India managing director Abhishek Ganguly said: “Virat has transformed the way fitness is looked at in Indian cricket. He has emphasised the role of an athlete and is reshaping cricket in the millennial culture, thus endorsing our brand ethos. He is a youth icon with an effortless style.

London Stadium May Host 2019 Cricket Matches

Former Olympic venue London Stadium is likely to host Cricket World Cup matches in 2019, after its potential playing surface was found to be large enough to allow for one-day internationals to be played there.

The International Cricket Council previously requested that the England and Wales Cricket Board attempt to find high-capacity grounds to host matches. The 60,000-seater London Stadium, currently the home of Premier League side West Ham United, has twice the capacity of Lords.

The stadium has previously been considered by Essex to host domestic Twenty20 matches. There would, however, be serious logistical issues to accompany the conversion of the stadium.

New Twenty20 Tournament Set For UAE

The United Arab Emirates will host the inaugural edition of a new Twenty20 cricket tournament later this month.

The Desert T20 tournament will run in mid-January, malady and will comprise eight competing national teams from three different continents.

The majority of games will take place in Abu Dhabi, viagra buy with the final two days play coming in Dubai.

Entry to the venues will be free, with the first game coming as Scotland take on Hong Kong on January 14

ICC to propose women's cricket for 2022 Commonwealth Games

The International Cricket Council Board has decided to submit an application for a women's cricket event to be included in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban.

The ICC will now work closely with the Commonwealth Games Federation in order to ensure cricket's inclusion on the program and to determine the specific tournament structure and qualification process that will be applied.

ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar said: "The Board has taken a strategic decision to support the inclusion of women's cricket in the 2022 Commonwealth Games as it will enhance the profile of the sport and create additional exposure and experiences for female cricketers, as well as opportunities to engage with the Commonwealth Games on important social justice issues and initiatives."

There will be further discussions on cricket's potential participation in the Olympic Games following further meetings with the International Olympic Committee later in the year.

ICC announce new General Manager

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that Claire Furlong has been appointed as the organisation’s General Manager – Strategic Communications.

She will take up her position on 17 July.

Ms Furlong is currently Head of Sport at Hanover Sport with clients including England and Wales Cricket Board, NFL and Asian Football Confederation. Prior to Hanover, she ran her own consultancy for a number of years with a range of clients including Team England for whom she led the media operation at Glasgow 2014.