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ICC wants quick end to ICL debate

The ICL’s move to obtain ICC recognition has entered a critical phase with both sides meeting in Johannesburg next week along with the BCCI, the third party in the issue. The ICC is making a serious push for a settlement at that meeting, on February 21, and is so hopeful of a solution that David Morgan, its president, has alerted Subhash Chandra, the ICL owner, on the possibility of having to stay back an extra day to finalise any agreement.

The issue was discussed in detail at the ICC board meeting in Perth last month following which, it is learnt, the ICL was offered a masters/veterans tournament as a compromise formula. However, the ICL is sticking to its demand of being granted “authorised unofficial cricket” status under existing ICC rules though they are open to providing certain assurances – particularly a guarantee against poaching players contracted to their respective national boards.

The ICC recently drafted new rules on official and unofficial cricket making it virtually impossible for future ICL models to come up but these rules are effective in June. The ICL request falls under existing rules, which state: “In the event of anybody wishing to stage an ‘unofficial cricket event’, ICC approval should first be obtained before full members could release their players for the event”.

The rules also stipulate that any such approval will require an assessment of various criteria, including the home board’s approval if the event is in an ICC member country. The ICL’s request is currently stuck in this legal wedge.

Tags: bcci, icc, ICL