Key issues on ICC agenda
The ICC executive board will consider a series of key issues at its first meeting of the year in Delhi on 17 and 18 March 2005.
Mark Harrison
14-Mar-2005
The ICC executive board will consider a series of key issues at its first meeting of the year in Delhi, India on 17 and 18 March 2005.
Among the main topics on the agenda are:
- A report from the ICC chief executive, Malcolm Speed, on the currently suspended Project USA initiative which is aimed at staging international cricket in America;
- A report into the current status of Kenyan cricket and the decision to suspend ICC funding to this Member;
- A number of governance reforms recommended by the ICC Governance Review Committee relating to the selection and term of the ICC president, the restructure of the board of the ICC's commercial arm, ICC Development (International) Ltd (IDI), and the provision of voting rights at the ICC Annual Conference to representatives of ICC Affiliate Members;
- Discussions on the future format of the ICC Champions Trophy to establish if the Members wish to continue with the 12 team format used for the past two tournaments;
- Further discussions on the Review of the Structure of Cricket project initiated by the executive board to look at the way in which international cricket is programmed;
- An update on the tax issues surrounding the staging of the ICC Champions Trophy should it be held in India, following the ICC president's meeting with government officials in India.
Project USA
The Board will consider a report on the recent decision of the ICC President and ICC Chief Executive to suspend Project USA due to concerns over governance issues within the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA). The Board will be asked to provide guidance on how it wishes this project to be taken forward, if at all.
The Board will consider a report on the recent decision of the ICC President and ICC Chief Executive to suspend Project USA due to concerns over governance issues within the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA). The Board will be asked to provide guidance on how it wishes this project to be taken forward, if at all.
Kenya
The Board will consider a report on the recent developments in Kenyan cricket including the Kenyan government's decision to remove the Kenyan Cricket Association, the creation of Cricket Kenya, the legal issues that have arisen as a result of these moves and the decision to withhold ICC funding to the KCA pending the resolution of these issues.
The Board will consider a report on the recent developments in Kenyan cricket including the Kenyan government's decision to remove the Kenyan Cricket Association, the creation of Cricket Kenya, the legal issues that have arisen as a result of these moves and the decision to withhold ICC funding to the KCA pending the resolution of these issues.
The board will be asked to provide direction on how it wishes these issues to be resolved.
ICC Governance
The board will be asked to approve a number of changes to the Memorandum and Articles of ICC and its commercial arm IDI, to help streamline and improve the administration of the sport.
The board will be asked to approve a number of changes to the Memorandum and Articles of ICC and its commercial arm IDI, to help streamline and improve the administration of the sport.
If approved, these changes will then be proposed to the ICC's Annual Conference in June 2005 for ratification by the members. The changes include:
1. Allowing the executive board to extend, by invitation, the term of the ICC president from two years to three years;
2. A proposal to replace the current system for selecting the ICC president, with a five person Nominations Committee which will make a recommendation to the full Board for the appointment of the ICC president;
3. Restructuring the governance of the ICC's commercial arm, IDI, that would see the board of IDI altered from 15 directors to a more effective and efficient six person board, all of whom would be selected by the ICC executive board.
A Special Meeting of Associate and Full Members of the ICC will also take place in India to consider two special resolutions:
1. The extension of the term of office of the current ICC president, Ehsan Mani, for an additional 12 months up until the June 2006 ICC Annual Conference;
2. A proposal that Affiliate members be entitled to have one voting delegate per development region (5) at the annual Associates Meeting and the ICC Annual Conference.
These special resolutions have already been circulated to all Associate and Full Members. With the exception of the three ICC executive board directors from the Associate members, it is expected that the remaining 24 Associate Members will attend and vote on the proposals by proxy.
The Format of the ICC Champions Trophy
The board will examine alternative structures to the current 12 team format of the ICC Champions Trophy to see if it remains the preferred format for this tournament.
The board will examine alternative structures to the current 12 team format of the ICC Champions Trophy to see if it remains the preferred format for this tournament.
Any change would see the tournament remain as an ODI event.
Review of the Structure of Cricket
The executive board will continue its discussions on the findings of the Review of the Structure of Cricket project, which is examining the most effective way for international cricket to be scheduled.
The executive board will continue its discussions on the findings of the Review of the Structure of Cricket project, which is examining the most effective way for international cricket to be scheduled.
In addition to the current Future Tours Program (FTP) that sees all Test playing countries play each other once at home and once away in a five year cycle, a number of options over a four, five or six-year cycle have been identified for the board to consider should it believe that it is necessary to move away from the current system.
Indian tax issues that may affect the staging of ICC events in India
The ICC president will update directors on his discussions with Indian government officials concerning the current tax issues that are acting as a barrier to the staging of ICC events in India. The discussion will focus on the ICC Champions Trophy 2006 and the board will be looking to make a decision on where this event is to be located, in particular if it can be staged in India.
Integration of the ICC with the International Womens' Cricket Council
This directors' meeting will be the final one before the IWCC votes on ratifying the plan for the integration of the two organisations at the IWCC Annual Meeting in South Africa on 2 April 2005, coinciding with the IWCC Cricket World Cup 2005. The ICC president will be attending the IWCC Cricket World Cup on behalf of the ICC and will update the Board on the progress of the integration planning.
This directors' meeting will be the final one before the IWCC votes on ratifying the plan for the integration of the two organisations at the IWCC Annual Meeting in South Africa on 2 April 2005, coinciding with the IWCC Cricket World Cup 2005. The ICC president will be attending the IWCC Cricket World Cup on behalf of the ICC and will update the Board on the progress of the integration planning.
The ICC executive board is made up of the presidents and chairmen of the ICC's 10 Full Member countries, plus three representatives from Associate member countries. It is the key policy making forum for international cricket and has scheduled meetings three times per year to debate and discuss the major issues affecting the game.
It is expected that there will be a media briefing in India on the outcomes of the executive board meeting. Details of this briefing will be provided closer to the date.