Controversial revenue sharing model moves closer and problems with US cricket governance

Debate over a controversial revenue-sharing model is set to dominate the International Cricket Councils AGM, while USA Cricket’s ongoing governance issues and important CEO committee elections also feature prominently.

The meetings will be held from 10 to 14. July in Durban, South Africa.

Income sharing model

Work on the revenue-sharing model for the ICC’s $3 billion media rights deal has been ongoing for some time.

Details were tight until now ESPNcricinfo last month reported India’s governing body was set to receive $230 million a year – or 38.5 percent more than its current share of 22 percent – in net surplus revenue from the media rights deal for 2024-27.

Countries Australia and England, armed like India with billion-dollar domestic media rights deals, get the next most, around six percent, although their share has been significantly reduced.

Associate members – the 96 countries considered below the 12 top-tier full members who are granted more funding and power – are set to get about 11 percent, roughly the same percentage as in the current model.

It has shocked some in the associate world, with Sumod Damodar, associate member representative on the influential CEO committee, branding it “ridiculous”.

“New members are coming in and new programs are being proposed to be implemented,” he told me recently. “How the hell are we going to sustain, develop and grow if the pot doesn’t grow?”

But some associate administrators believe it’s the best deal that can be made because the media rights deal will raise significantly more money than before.

“There’s going to be a lot more money for Associates, whose share is up (slightly) compared to almost all full members, whose share is down,” a senior Associates administrator told me.

“Associates don’t have a loud voice, so this is probably the best possible deal. Some full members are demanding more.”

The proposed model is being hotly debated in Durban, although it is unclear whether it will be finalized at the meetings or later this year. According to sources, the model will probably be approved as is or with minor modifications.

Meanwhile, as I recently reported, the ICC’s High Performance Program is set to be revived after running for more than 15 years before being scrapped at the end of the last decade.

The top member program included player development paths and specialized management structures that helped professionalize those close to full member level.

The working group on the matter is headed by ICC Director General Wasim Khan, and the revamped version is expected to involve some smaller full members as well as top members. It is likely to be presented at the Durban meetings.

USA Cricket Governance Issues

As I first reported in April, USA Cricket was poised to bring the sport’s governing body to “attention” amid ongoing governance dysfunction.

According to the ICC Development Committee, USA Cricket is currently considered non-compliant because it “does not have a consistently applied governance structure”.

“It has not completed its 2022 elections within the time required by the constitution,” the development committee wrote in a document sent ahead of the AGM.

“As previously stated by DevCom, the election was delayed due to restrictions related to Covid-19.”

But with the delayed USA Cricket elections finally set for 8-11. July, USA Cricket is expected to be in compliance by the Development Committee meeting.

“After the election is over, USA Cricket may appoint a permanent chairman (the chairman is appointed by the board) to take over from the current interim chairman (Kuljit Singh-Nijjar),” the development committee wrote.

It’s a relief for embattled USA Cricket, as the watchdog is described as a “knuckle rap” but the financial pinch will be felt as members are suspended and their funding halted.

Former governing body USA Cricket Association was expelled in 2017, which ended a turbulent period marked by three suspensions.

The Saudi Cricket Association is also expected to follow the rules at the AGM. The governing body has not received the ICC Scorecard and Competition Grant after 2022 due to insufficient audited accounts for 2020.

“SACF will appeal this failure to the Development Finance Committee and seek an exemption from this historical compliance issue,” the Development Committee said.

The Age/Sydney Morning Herald reported in April that Saudi Arabia was seeking to establish the world’s richest cricket league alarmed cricket administrators.

As I reported at the time, an ICC task force was set up to deal with the implosion of T20 franchise leagues and was expected to provide an update at the meetings.

Meanwhile, Iran, Sweden and South Korea are at risk of being warned for not following the rules.

Proposed administrative reform

At last year’s annual general meeting, a one-level Member proposal was presented to the ICC in the midst of discussions on constitutional reforms.

It is set to be brought up again at the Durban meetings and includes scrapping the seemingly archaic tiered membership led by 12 full members who receive more funding and wield more power through coveted seats on the ICC’s 17-member board.

The “single-tier membership” does not replicate FIFA’s controversial One Country, One Vote rule, which has led critics to believe that small nations are granted outsized influence.

The proposal called for a weighted class-based voting structure based on the ICC’s distribution model and competition structure performance, while funding would mimic the current associate membership model based on on-field and off-field performance.

Membership tiers would be replaced by format space for both men and women – Test, ODI or T20I, short format where each member has a space.

Efforts have also been made to reform the ICC board, which mainly consists of full members. It has only one female independent director (ex-PepsiCoPEP
Chief Indra Nooyi) and Independent Chairman (Greg Barclay).

The overhaul has inevitably proven to be a tricky subject, but there is unrest and change in the air from some quarters. Several administrative officials of the associated countries have urged the heads of government to bring the matter up for consideration at this meeting.

Anxiety has been increased by the income distribution model approved by the ICC board.

“I don’t think the board should have more than 12 members and at least seven of them should be independent directors,” former ICC director and Pakistan Cricket Board boss Ehsan Mani told me recently.

Committee of CEOs

As I reported earlier this month, nine candidates are vying for three seats in the July 10 CEC election.

Incumbents Sumod Damodar (Botswana), Mubashshir Usmani (UAE) and Rashpal Bajwa will contest again. Those looking to win a place in the CEC are Bashir Ansasiira (Uganda), Umair Butt (Denmark), Richard Done (Cricket PNG), Johan Muller (Namibia), Ravi Seghal (Thailand) and Abhiram Yadav (Indonesia).

Done, a former head of high performance at the ICC, Ansasiira and Seghal are the favorites of those looking to unseat the incumbents.

The CEC is meant to promote and develop cricket globally, while governing and regulating the sport at an international level. It is highly sought after for the Associate Chief and is seen as a stepping stone to join the ICC board, where the real power lies in global cricket.

Newly elected CEC associate members receive two-year terms.