BCCI dares ICC by skipping deadline.
It makes or break night for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Having missed the deadline for announcing team for the upcoming Champions Trophy in England, BCCI officials in Dubai are gearing up for a final showdown before the International Cricket Council's board meeting to discuss the new revenue model beginning on Wednesday.
DNA has learnt that BCCI secretary Amitabh Chaudhary along with treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary have lined up a series of informal meetings with different boards in their last bid to "remind them that they have the option of exercising the rights mentioned under the Members' Participation Agreement (MPA)".
If ICC fails to respect the MPA signed on October 12, 2014, then BCCI will have to either take legal recourse or go to the extent of withdrawing Team India from ICC tournaments, which in this case is the Champions Trophy to be held in England from June 1.
"We're going to meet almost all the other country's representatives once today's Asian Cricket Council meeting is over. Under the terms of MPA which was signed in 2014, any member country has a choice to walk out if any term or figure is changed during that period agreed upon (for eight years)," an insider told DNA on Tuesday.
ICC has no power to penalise BCCI if we choose to withdraw from Champions Trophy under protest," came the clarification.
Broadcaster on BCCI side
BCCI is working on two-fold strategy One is by explaining its position to every member. And the other is by taking into confidence the next ICC chairman Giles Clarke of ECB, which controls three important votes England, Ireland and Pakistan and then defer the matter till June when Manohar completes his term.
And ECB is aware of threat by the official broadcaster Star Sports opting to side with India.
"It's a question of choosing between 80 million English or 1.3 billion Indian viewership," said a BCCI official.
In any case, the television rights for the Indian Premier League are up for grabs and no broadcaster would like to seen on a different platform at this point.
"We're governed by our SGM's (special general meeting) written resolution that we are carrying with us. We'll go back if 2014 revenue model is not made applicable from 2016 onwards," said an official.
ICC's final offer
Earlier in the day, ICC is said to have reached out to BCCI with an additional $80 million offer to resolve the ongoing crisis regarding new revenue model. However, this was rejected by BCCI's representatives in Dubai.
"Yes, the offer came from ICC chairman Shashank Manohar's side for almost an additional $80 million in the new financial model. But there was no way we could consider any such offer when there is a question of national interest. Thus, we didn't even bother to reply to him," said a BCCI official.
When asked why can't they have a dialogue with their former colleague and president, the official cited "trust deficit" for the same.
"Can Manohar guarantee money to all other countries without India on board?" asked the official, adding: "Can there be any revenue without the participation of Team India.
Let them (countries) take a call whether they want India on their side or Manohar."
As per the existing revenue distribution model, BCCI gets $579 million from the ICC. But if Manohar's proposal is applied then India's share can come down to $290 million.
"Let ICC take action against India for not naming the team of CT within a deadline. Can England afford to hold a tournament without money-spinner India?"