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BCCI rejected Test championship, claims WICB chief

Source:PTI
August 29, 2009 17:53 IST

In a startling revelation, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) chief Julian Hunte accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of rejecting ICC's proposal of organising Test cricket with a four-year championship structure in place.

Hunte made the statement in his report at the annual general meeting of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) this month.

"Initially, the ICC attempted to change the structure of the FTP beginning from 2012 in which international cricket would have more content and would play more as a Super League with a 4-year structure resulting in a World Cricket Championship, but this failed when the BCCI rejected that proposal," Hunte told Cricinfo.

"This meant a return to the old practice of full members agreeing to a schedule of tours, which in effect places the power in the hands of the four biggest commercially valued members," he said.

Hunte, however, did not disclose the identity of the four member boards but it is open secret that India, England, Australia and South Africa have a greater say in the ICC board.

Taking a dig at the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Indian Cricket League (ICL), the WICB president questioned the involvement of private promoters with the game and said some full members are suspicious about the objective of such promoters.

"The emergence of private promoters in cricket has been much debated and some Full Member countries retain their inherent suspicion of the real objectives of such promoters. The ICC has drawn the line in relation to other leagues such the as ICL, which are not recognised by their home boards.

"Conversely, decision-making at the ICC affecting the IPL is often seemingly under the influence of some Full Members. The WICB remains convinced that Full Members should in some way benefit financially from the IPL and expect to see a general tightening up with respect to the issuance of Non-Objection Certificates," he said.

"With many challenges to be faced and overcome, the future of world cricket is now at the crossroads and much depends on the decisions which will have to be taken by ICC in the near future," he added.

Hunte's concerns about the IPL are not surprising given that IPL is considered as one of the main factor responsible in the dispute between the WICB and players.

Source: PTI
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