ICC revamp could make BCCI units richer by Rs 15 crore

The affiliated units of the Board of Control for Cricket in India might have a reason to rejoice in the coming months as the International Cricket Council's revamp in the revenue distribution structure will mean an additional cash bonanza to the tune of Rs 15 crore for them to develop the game.

With the ICC clearing the 'Position Paper', which provides more revenue to India, England and Australia, the BCCI top brass has decided that the money earned through the new 'Revenue Model' will be put back into the game through the various affiliated units.

According to reliable sources, the units might get an additional Rs 15 crore each as India stands to gain more from the ICC revenue sharing. This will be an additional amount apart from the regular grant and money from TV sponsorship rights that the associations have been getting all along.

"As per the new 'Revenue Model', the BCCI gets 21 percent of the profits. We have been told by the top office-bearers that state units stand to gain an additional amount of approximately Rs 15 crore which can be used for development of the game and infrastructure at the grassroots level," a senior BCCI official told PTI on Tuesday.

While N Srinivasan is set to take over as the chairman of the ICC, questions are being raised as to what will happen if he finally does not assume his position as ICC head.

"Look, while this decision to distribute the ICC earnings was intimated by Mr Srinivasan at an earlier board meeting, it is BCCI's turn to select the chairman of the ICC Executive board for a period of two years between 2014 and 2016."

"But even if Srinivasan is not representing India, whoever goes will have to implement what has been a consensus decision. Since it has been discussed with the members, I don't think there is a chance of any rollback from the decision," the source added.

As of now, the state units get anything in the range of Rs 27 to Rs 35 crore. The amount depends on factors like Test centres, IPL hosting centres, international matches during that current financial year.

For example, the associations which get to host an international match (Test, ODI or T20s) during a particular year stand to gain more.

The official also said that although there will be one franchise less (Pune Warriors India not a part of IPL anymore) and number of matches less, it won't hurt the coffers of the BCCI or its affiliates.

"Agreed we have lesser number of televised matches but at the same time we have got a much more lucrative title sponsorship deal from the Pepsi compared to what we had with DLF earlier. So there is no question of financial loss.

"Also for the UAE leg of the IPL, the BCCI is taking care of the entire infrastructure in the three stadiums of Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi to lessen the burden of the franchises," he signed off.