What the former cricketers are saying about 'big three' ICC revamp

One of the South Africa’s most iconic cricketers, Jonty Rhodes, has said that Cricket South Africa should not be too fearful yet that world cricket power will suddenly become lopsidedly placed into the hands of a ‘big three’-India, England and Australia.

India is the main player in the entire International Cricket Council revamp plan, as they generate 80 percent of world cricket's income and want a greater share of revenue.

Australia and England will also benefit immensely if the plan is passed.

Rhodes said in Abu Dhabi that Dave Richardson, the ICC general manager was trying to keep everybody.

He told Sport24 that India have requested a bigger say because they generate so much of the earning capacity in world cricket. He added, “But look, there's always been a lot that goes on behind the boundary, from the days when South Africa came back from isolation in the early Nineties.”

Rhodes added there was so much wheeler-dealing going on behind the scenes, but that's going to happen; boards, politicians will do their thing, but as long as players are going to get the opportunity to go out and express themselves and show their skills, the game is in a really good state.

Former England captain Michael Atherton too has hit out at India, England and Australia's plan to jointly-control the International Cricket Council, saying the proposals recalled a time when the cricket governing body was known as the "Imperial Cricket Conference."

Writing for his column in the Times, Atherton advised those at the helm of affairs to take guidance from the 2012 Woolf Report, ICC's independent governance review, which proposed sweeping changes to the way the game of cricket was being run. The report also called for the ICC's executive board to be independent and free from the clutches of the bigger nations.

The former England skipper was also critical of the way the ICC was being run and was of the opinion that the current scenario was inevitable, The Dawn reported.

Atherton also urged the Indian cricket board to become a fully engaged and interested party to world cricket.

Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe joined the chorus calling for the withdrawal of the controversial proposal to revamp the ICC piloted by India, England and Australia, despite his country's Board's support to the plan.

Crowe has informed compatriot Alan Isaac, the ICC president, that he supported the letter sent by ex-ICC chief Ehsan Mani and other former top cricket administrators that the proposal should be withdrawn.

"I endorse wholeheartedly the letter by Mr Ehsan Mani to the ICC regards their position paper," Crowe said in an e-mail to Issac, according to a media report.

Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja has advised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to accept the working proposal on restructuring of world cricket by India, Australia and England at the ICC meeting in Dubai.

"Eventually it is a proposal that will be accepted. Pakistan must make best use of this situation and try to not only get long-term financial benefits but also more series against these three nations," Rameez said.

Rameez insisted that it was a proposal that Pakistan needed to look at carefully for its own benefits.

"I think we can benefit a lot from the situation and what we can do is get long-term financial benefits and also sign long-term bilateral contracts for series with these three nations," he toldGeo news channel.

"We should not go with the popular opinion but think about our own benefits because every board will do that."

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar also felt that Pakistan had no option but to accept the working paper.

"As a cricket nation we are in no position to throw our weight around that is my honest opinion," he said.

"So we shouldn't have any doubt that eventually Pakistan will have to accept this proposal. Now all we have to see is what we can gain from it," he said.

Akhtar was critical of PCB's role and said due to its wrong policies the board today stood isolated in world cricket.