"Progress has been made on a number of significant issues, in particular around international cricket structures," said ICC Chief Executive David Richardson

The International Cricket Council (ICC) concluded five days of Board and Committee meetings in Dubai with a number of decisions passed, including a revised financial model. In addition, agreement on a new constitution to be put before the ICC Full Council was also reached.

With a Board meeting, Chief Executives’ Committee, Development Committee, Audit Committee, Financial and Commercial Affairs Committee and Women’s Committee and Forum, it was a full week of meetings.

Governance and Financial Model

Following the decision in February 2017 to reverse the 2014 resolutions, a revised financial model was presented to the Board and passed. The Board appointed a working group which proposed the model has continued to be guided by the following principles:

Equity

Good conscience

Common sense and simplicity

Enabling every Member to grow

Revenue generated by Members

Greater transparency

Recognition of interdependency amongst Members, that cricket playing nations need each other and the more strong nations there are, the better for the sport

As such the revenue distribution for the cycle 2016-2023 will be as follows:

Based on current forecasted revenues and costs, BCCI will receive $293m across the eight year cycle, ECB $143m, Zimbabwe Cricket $94m and the remaining seven Full Members $132m each. Associate Members will receive funding of $280m. This model was passed 13 votes to one.

A revised constitution was also approved by 12 votes to two. This takes into account the Board’s feedback following extensive discussion at the February meeting and further input from the working group. It will now be presented to the ICC Full Council in June for adoption. The constitution reflects good governance, expands on and clarifies the roles and objectives of the ICC to provide leadership in international cricket. Further constitutional changes proposed include:

o The potential to include additional Full Members in the future subject to meeting Membership criteria

o Removal of the Affiliate level of Membership so only two categories; Full Member and Associate Member

o The introduction of an independent female director

o The introduction of Membership criteria and a Membership Committee established to consider membership applications

o The introduction of a Deputy Chairman of the Board who will be a sitting director elected by the Board to stand in for the Chairman in the event that he or she is unable to fulfil their duties

o Equal weight of votes for all Board Members regardless of Membership status

o All Members to be entitled to attend the AGM

Under the revised version that will be presented to the Annual Conference and in an effort to support existing Full Members, the potential for reclassification of Full Membership was removed. The Board acknowledged the need to sustain and grow the number of members competing at the top level.

ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar said: “This is another step forward for world cricket and I look forward to concluding the work at the Annual Conference. I am confident we can provide a strong foundation for the sport to grow and improve globally in the future through the adoption of the revised financial model and governance structure.”

Other decisions of note also include:

Cricket

Work on bringing more context to international bilateral cricket is ongoing with the matter discussed at the Chief Executives’ Committee and in an additional workshop. The ICC Board noted the collective will to resolve the current calendar congestion in order to bring a clear framework to all three formats.





The ICC Board has considered an update following the ICC delegation to the PSL final in Lahore as part of its commitment to support the return of international bilateral cricket to Pakistan as long as it is safe for players, officials, media and fans.





The feasibility of further matches in Pakistan involving a World XI is now being considered from a security and budget perspective.





The eight top ranked ODI teams competing in the second edition of the Women’s Championship commencing later this year, will be required to play a fixed set of three ODI fixtures against each of the other teams. The Women’s Committee has also recommended that any additional matches played (up to five) should be T20Is in recognition of the role the format can play in the growth of the game.

It was agreed that a separate rankings system for Women’s ODI and T20I cricket be developed with the latter being fully inclusive of all international teams playing that format.





It was agreed that DRS can be used in women’s televised bilateral ODIs if host Member boards choose to do so.

Development

The principles behind a revised ICC World T20 2020 global qualification structure were endorsed by the Development Committee and ICC management will now develop a more detailed proposal for consideration at the ICC Board in June.





Following consideration of a report on ICC activities in China, the Board agreed to the development of a detailed China Growth Strategy for consideration by the ICC Board in June in consultation with the Asian Cricket Council and Hong Kong Cricket Association.

The ICC Board also agreed to a recommendation from the Development Committee to pay the outstanding salaries to national contracted players whilst the Cricket Association of Nepal is suspended and undergoing constitutional reform and reinstatement process.

Governance

The ICC Board, on the recommendation of the Audit Committee and Financial and Commercial Affairs Committee approved the unqualified audited financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2016.





The Board approved a new Code of Ethics in line with global best practice to join together most effective practices from sport and other industry.





Noting the BCCI’s commitment to reconsidering the matter in the near future, the Chief Executives’ Committee reconfirmed its support for cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “It has been a very productive week. Progress has been made on a number of significant issues, in particular around international cricket structures. Efforts to find a solution, enhancing the context of international bilateral cricket and retaining the relevance of the international game, will continue.”