THE West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has said it expects its revenue to rise by “at least 100%” over the next eight years if the “key principles” of the draft proposal on the ICC’s revenue sharing are voted in. The board issued a statement in support of the “key principles” put forward on day one of the ICC executive board meeting in Dubai, saying it had engaged in “extensive discussions” before concluding that several of the key principles could be beneficial to West Indies cricket.

“After extensive discussions and careful consideration the West Indies Cricket Board joined with all other Full Members of the ICC in providing support for key principles relating to the future structure, governance and financial models of the ICC,” the release said.
The release listed the benefits the proposals could have for the game in the Caribbean, including the projected monetary benefits. “Based on new proposed system of ICC revenue sharing for the upcoming eight year cycle (2015-2023) WICB projects to receive at least 100% increase on the previous eight year cycle (2006-2014),” the release said.
The annual Test Match Fund, which is to support Full Members other than India, England and Australia, will “allow the WICB a financial buffer in the hosting of Test cricket against unprofitable teams,” the release said.
Also, bilateral playing agreements, as opposed to the FTP, would mean West Indies “will not be bound” to host those unprofitable tours, it said. “West Indies will have an opportunity, through bilateral agreements, to increase the number of matches and series (Tests, ODIs and T20Is) played annually by the West Indies men’s team against higher-ranked opposition and against teams, which are profitable to the WICB. These will include matches and series both in the West Indies and overseas.”
Moreover, the BCCI, ECB and Cricket Australia “have all committed” to increased tours to the Caribbean over the next eight years, in addition to the current tours slotted into the FTP, the board said.
West Indies will not be affected by the originally proposed two-tier Test system, it said, since they are currently ranked seven on the ICC ratings; while the team is just a five points clear of eighth-placed New Zealand at present, there is a big gulf between eight and nine – Zimbabwe, at nine, are 53 points adrift of West Indies.
Also, the key principles on governance, the WICB said, will not have any negative effect on the board since its members are “not in any way excluded from membership or chairmanship of any committee of the ICC”.
They will remain eligible to be elected to the presidency, vice-presidency and chairmanship of the ICC, and chairmanship of the proposed Financial & Commercial Affairs and Ex- Co committees.
Following discussions in Dubai on Tuesday, the ICC board settled for a period of consultation between boards and discussion over a set of principles, which, if approved, will grant the BCCI, the ECB and Cricket Australia a bigger share of cricket’s global revenues and a bigger control of the game’s governance.
The matter was not put to vote, with four cricket boards – Cricket South Africa, Sri Lanka Cricket, Bangladesh Cricket Board and Pakistan Cricket Board – showing opposition towards such a revamp. New Zealand Cricket, on the other hand, had earlier stated that it was not worried by the proposed changes.
The WICB had refrained from commenting on the draft proposal earlier, the release said, since it had wanted to “engage in discussions with fellow Full Members and receive a more detailed and thorough presentation at the ongoing ICC meeting” before reacting. (ESPN Cricinfo)