Indian pay-television broadcaster Star Sports has contacted the International Cricket Council to outline its concerns regarding a possible boycott of the forthcoming Champions Trophy national team competition by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
The BCCI, cricket’s most powerful national body, is considering its options after it was last week comprehensively outvoted on plans to introduce a revamped financial model in the world game and substantial constitutional changes at the ICC, the sport’s global governing body.
Under the restructuring, a new revenue distribution model will seek to counter the imbalance favouring the so-called ‘big three’ of India, England and Australia. This model was last week rubber-stamped by 13 votes to one, with the BCCI widely reported to be the single voice of opposition.
As such, under the revenue distribution for the 2016-2023 cycle, the BCCI is projected to receive $293m (€269m) across the eight years, the England and Wales Cricket Board $143m, Zimbabwe Cricket $94m and the remaining seven full members $132m each. Associate members will receive funding of $280m. The BCCI was previously said to be seeking $570m – the same figure it would have gained under the original big three model.
A revised ICC constitution was also approved by 12 votes to two, with the BCCI again reportedly in opposition alongside Sri Lanka Cricket. The BCCI failed to meet a deadline of April 25 to submit its squad for the forthcoming Champions Trophy one-day international tournament, which takes place in England and Wales from June 1-18. India was the only competing nation not to meet the deadline and Indian media have reported a boycott of the tournament by its reigning champion is a serious option amid dissatisfaction at the ICC reforms.
Star has an eight-year global rights deal with the ICC, from 2015 to 2023, signed in October 2014. The current cycle commenced after the 2015 World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand. It features two editions apiece of the organisation’s flagship World Cup, World Twenty20 and Champions Trophy tournaments, along with qualifying events for the former two events.
“There is concern in the market,” a Star India official, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Reuters news agency, adding that the broadcaster had paid $1.9bn for the ICC rights. “There has been no official communication from the ICC or the BCCI on India's participation. We have sent an email to the ICC asking how they plan to compensate us if our business is impacted due to India's pull-out.”
The option of exiting the Champions Trophy by revoking the Members Participation Agreement between the ICC and the BCCI will be discussed at a special general meeting of the Indian board on Sunday.