SPORTS

'Performance, not money, counts'

By N.Ananthanarayanan
November 01, 2006 15:40 IST

International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Malcolm Speed said on Wednesday money was not a true barometer of cricket success.

Speaking at a news conference ahead of the ICC's two-day executive board meeting starting in Mumbai on Friday, Speed said he judged organisations on three criteria and the amount of money a cricket board had took a back seat to on-field performance.

"I judge them on how well the team performs, how they look after stake-holders in terms of facilities on the ground etc, and how well they use resources like population to produce great cricketers."

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) signed a $1 million rights deal this year but has been involved in a series of commercial disputes with the ICC.

The BCCI is refusing to endorse a document allowing cricket's governing body to seal a fresh multi-million dollar sponsorship deal from 2007-2015.

The ICC meeting will discuss whether the Indian board should be allowed to bid for its global rights, usually restricted to media companies.

New Zealand, with a population of some 4 million, had reached the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy while India could not, despite having the luxury of over one billion people to choose from, said Speed.

"New Zealand do not have lot of money, but they are consistent," Speed said. "India last won a major cricketing event in 1983 (World Cup)."

Meanwhile, ICC President Percy Sonn said he would attend a BCCI function in Mumbai on Saturday despite the Indian board also inviting former skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, who was banned from the game for life in 2000 for match fixing.

N.Ananthanarayanan
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

NEXT ARTICLE

NewsBusinessMoviesSportsCricketGet AheadDiscussionLabsMyPageVideosCompany Email