CoA calls for a meeting a day ahead of BCCI's crucial SGM

The Committee of Administrators (CoA) has called for a meeting with various zonal representatives of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on May 6 to brief them on what is expected of the board’s Special General Body Meeting (SGM).

It is understood that in case of the SGM voting for a pullout from the Champions Trophy, the CoA would not hesitate to intervene in the interest of Indian cricket.

The decision on India’s participation in the Champions Trophy, to be held from June 1-19 in England, continues to be a matter of debate, and would be decided at the SGM of BCCI when it meets here on May 7.

A pullout risks sanctions from the ICC besides tarnishing the image of the BCCI. “It is not just the Champions Trophy. Please remember India would miss out on the women’s World Cup and the under-19 tournaments if BCCI decides to pull out. The ramifications would be severe and impact India’s participation in ICC-conducted events until 2023,” warned a well-placed source.

There are several within the board who believe that a pullout from the Champions Trophy works against the interest of players and should be seen only as the last option. It is learnt a move is in place to make ICC rethink by some officials who are convinced that a confrontation with the ICC should be avoided at any cost.

The lack of support from the Asian countries during the ICC meeting has left the BCCI stunned. The BCCI, which cut a lonely figure during the meeting in Dubai, is contemplating ways to regain its stature dented due to the recent developments.

The BCCI was completely sidelined during the ICC meeting last week, on revised revenue and governance reforms, with even its old allies Sri Lanka and Bangladesh voting in favour of the new model. While the BCCI didn’t expect any support from Pakistan, it was certainly left surprised by the lack of support from the other Asian countries, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, who were the co-hosts with India for the 2011 World Cup.

“Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh helped India take on the big two, England and Australia. We co-hosted the World Cup too in a fantastic partnership. But things have changed obviously now. We didn’t expect support from Pakistan but Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have certainly surprised us,” lamented a senior BCCI official.

The BCCI had been vehement in its opposition of the new model, which cut its $570 million share to $293 million in the ICC’s bid for more equitable sharing of the revenue. Despite the cut, BCCI’s share remains the highest amongst the cricketing nations. However, BCCI, which generates 70 percent of the world cricket’s revenue, isn’t willing to compromise.

Much depends on the CoA which has also convened a meeting of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council on May 7 to take some major decisions.