BCCI’s revenue to jump 13 times to Rs 40 bn in new ICC power structure

[Basil]

MUMBAI: Thanks to the restructuring of the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) share of revenue from ICC is expected to jump 13 times to Rs 4,000 crore ( Rs 40 billion) over the next eight years (2015-2023) against Rs 300 crore ( Rs 3 billion) that it will receive in the current cycle, BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel revealed.

The ICC Board had recently approved the restructuring of the international cricket body under which the ‘Big Three’ of the world cricket – Australia, England and India – will get a lion’s share of revenue generated from ICC events.

The structural changes were approved during the recently concluded ICC Annual conference in Melbourne. Under the new revenue share formula, the BCCI will get 22 per cent of ICC’s gross revenue and a further 4 per cent of its profits. India, it must be noted, contributes more than 70 per cent of ICC’s revenues.

“We wish to divert those funds for the development of infrastructure in the country and for the benefit of the players. The players will also get to earn more from this source,” Patel said, adding that the BCCI currently distributes 26 per cent of its total earnings to the players.

In what will be music to Star India’s ears, Patel also informed that India will play more matches at home and there will be at least 40-45 days of international cricket every year once the new future tours programme (FTP) takes effect in 2015.

Under the new ICC structure, cricket boards have to sign bi-lateral agreements. India has inked an agreement with England under which both the teams will feature in a 5-Test series (at both home and away) from now on. The agreement with Australia and South Africa provide for four Test matches each.

“We have made sure that India hosts two series at home during our winter except when we travel to Australia to play a Test series. The bilateral agreement has been designed in such a way that it will benefit other countries too,” stated Patel. BCCI has almost finalised all bilateral series at home during the next cycle of eight years, Patel added.

However, the agreement with Pakistan (under which the two countries will play six series with four of them to them to be hosted by Pakistan between 2015 and 2023) will depend on government clearance. In a major for players, the BCCI secretary said that Tests and ODIs will be segregated in future to avoid long jumbo tours.

“The BCCI will also segregate Tests from the ODIs and like in the past the team would not be playing any more of jumbo series where the players are made to play Tests and ODI in one tour,” Patel said.

He also informed that West Indies will be touring India later this year for a series of three Tests and five ODIs between 4 October and 18 November. Being the official broadcast partner of West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Ten Sports will telecast the series.

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