MUMBAI: The BCCI is reportedly all set to oppose the possibility of the ICC replacing the 2021 Champions Trophy in India with a World T20.
BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry told Indian Express he believes that the cancellation of the Champions Trophy would result in a loss of approximately $30 million to the world’s richest cricket board.
The thought of replacing the event had come up at the ICC conclave in Auckland last year. The matter could be discussed again at the ongoing ICC board meeting in Kolkata under Item No. 6.2 on the agenda that says, “Formats and ICC Competition Architecture”.
“It is now learnt that there is a proposal to replace the Champions Trophy tournament scheduled in 2021 by a World T20 event. This might cause a loss of about $30 million to the BCCI and its stakeholders. Knowing the mood of the member organisations of the BCCI, in all likelihood, this would be unacceptable to the BCCI’s General Body which had earlier resolved that the Member Participation Agreement with the ICC would not be executed without the approval of the General Body,” Chaudhry told the daily.
The treasurer was also critical of ICC chairman Shashank Manohar. “Having worked with Mr Manohar, one realises that he does miss out on briefing the house on crucial information that has potentially significant ramifications for the organisation concerned and therefore it is important for the ICC board to understand the correct picture vis-à-vis the BCCI.”
As per the 2019-2023 FTP cycle Australia was given the hosting rights of the 2020 World T20, while India got the 2021 Champions Trophy and the 2023 World Cup.
Chaudhry isn’t impressed with the attitude of the game’s governing body towards the BCCI.
“It appears that the morality of the ICC excludes India’s interests but includes India’s money. It also appears that the true intent and the optics of the intent also differ greatly,” the treasurer said, adding: “How can we, the BCCI, devalue the life of a child playing cricket in a remote district in India in order to add value to a life of someone playing cricket in Ireland or Pakistan. All life is valuable and as BCCI, it is our duty to do the best we can for those who play the game within our area of operation. Also, we must not lose sight of the fact that the Champions Trophy is a brainchild of the late Jagmohan Dalmiya, who conceptualised it for the greater sustenance of the 50-over format.”
One BCCI member believes that abolishing the 2021 Champions Trophy would be “contradictory” to the global body’s concept of offering greater substance to the longer formats against the growing threat posed by the advent of T20 cricket.
