ICC Strategic Group report fears formation of rebel governing body

NEW DELHI: A breakaway revolt governing frame, the proposed T10 layout and loss of interest from broadcasters are amongst "18 threats" that global cricket faces at the moment, in keeping with a record of the ICC's Strategic Working Group (SWG) which will talk about those problems with the BCCI on Thursday.

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The record, which is in possession of PTI, claims to be a SWOT analysis of the problems confronting world cricket.

The SWG accommodates Cricket Australia's David Peever, BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, Singapore's Imran Khwaja, Cricket South Africa's Patricia Karambami, West Indies Cricket Board's Dave Cameron and women's consultant Clare Connor.

The Group will update BCCI office-bearers -- Acting President CK Khanna, Acting Secretary Amitabh Choudhary and Treasurer Aniruddh Chaudhry -- on global strategy for cricket.

"Yes, there has been threat to ICC. A very well-known former cricket administrator (currently banned) along with an Indian TV channel and an Australian lawyer had approached a lot of players and officials in order to form a parallel global body. They had named it 'Operation Watershed' then," a senior BCCI reputable instructed PTI on situation of anonymity.

"They wanted to form parallel associations in each country and were offering a lot of money to the players. The project didn't take off but there's no reason that it won't take off once again," the reputable stated.

The ICC analysis does now not take names. However, it's attention-grabbing to note that during 2016, there were reviews of sacked IPL commissioner Lalit Modi approaching officers from England and Australia to form a parallel frame, a hypothesis that dies down as temporarily because it took off.

Another matter of shock is the proposed T10 layout amid statements from stars equivalent to former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum that Test cricket will not be sustainable in the long run.

"The T10 league is also a matter of concern. More so, it was organised by Emirates Cricket Board (last December) with a lot of current players like Eoin Morgan, Shoaib Malik, Dwayne Bravo taking part," the reputable stated.

These threats may well be without delay linked to point No. 8 within the record which states: "Uncontrolled private investment into sports by commercial operators whose interests are aligned with short term financial gains rather than long term health and growth of sports."

Also, football's growth in traditional cricket nations is also listed as a danger within the SWG analysis along with a "lack of competitive tension in broadcast market".

"In a way, it is true. Save Star and Sony (networks), there aren't many who are ready to invest huge sums in cricket. So if it's a two-horse race, then you know that there aren't new broadcasters coming in," the reputable identified.

The record additionally speaks about "Collapse of traditional broadcast/sponsorship."

Add to this, the danger from unspecified "political uncertainties".

It is to be noted that India and Pakistan have now not been now not enjoying each different in bilateral collection owing to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and the risky diplomatic ties.