The International Cricket Council (ICC) is keen to have a say in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The cricket's global governing body is learnt to be making “serious efforts” to put in place a ‘watchdog’ to monitor all existing and upcoming private T20 leagues around the world - a move that could further widen the gap between India and the rest of the world. Under the pretext of trying to bring about a uniform policy for all T20 leagues, the ICC has pushed to put in place an ‘events sanctioning group’ that will work towards the following: A) Bring about more control on the many private T20 leagues sprouting around the world; B) Help draw up a uniform policy on how these leagues function; C) Have a say in the format and player policies; D) As a governing body, be seen as a policymaker for the many international cricket boards, who have T20 leagues or will have one soon.
It all means that the ICC wants to have a say in the running of the IPL too, an idea which has been categorically rejected by the BCCI. The BCCI’s stand on the matter is clear: “The IPL is an Indian domestic tournament and just the way how the ICC has no locus standi in a tournament like the Ranji Trophy, it will have no say in the IPL as well.” If the ICC try and tinker with IPL, a source said: “All hell will break lose.” The Indian cricket board - represented by CEO Rahul Johri at the recent ICC’s Chief Executives meeting in Dubai - has said a “no” to the setting up of an events sanctioning group and managed to explain the same to ICC chairman Shashank Manohar. The latter is learnt to be in agreement with the BCCI’s stand.
The question facing the BCCI, however, is how long can India keep the ICC from dictating terms, knowing that in the recent past they have been unequivocally voted out in matters of finances and governance? “It’s clear that there are forces that believe this Indian cricket administration is most vulnerable right now. The members are left without powers and it’s the right time to make inroads into a strong Indian market,” say sources.
Even as BCCI has rejected the idea for now, there’s been no word from countries like Australia and West Indies that own established T20 leagues. The ICC understands well that IPL, as a property, is cricket’s most valuable brand. The reason behind the sudden interest in the IPL is the revenue the tournament produces and the world body wants a share of it.
