JAGMOHAN DALMIYA may have lost his influence in Indian cricket, but that does not mean an end to clashes with the ICC. Yesterday, the new administration of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said that it will not take part in the ICC Champions Trophy one-day tournament after hosting it this year.
The BCCI claims that the scheduling of the tournament in October severely reduces the revenue it could generate. “We’re not free in October in 2007, 2008 or 2009,” Lalit Modi, the BCCI vice-president, said. “We have made our position clear to the ICC many times. If others want to play, they can, but why should we play in October?”
The BCCI said that it is planning to stage matches against Australia during October for the three years from 2007. If this were to be confirmed, it would leave the ICC with a big problem. After the lukewarm reception for its Super Series matches in Australia in October, it is looking for one more significant event to please its business partner, Global Cricket Corporation, which paid $50 million (about £28 million) for the ICC’s “world events” in a contract that is due for renewal next year.
The Champions Trophy was launched in 1998 to help to raise funds for the ICC’s development projects. This year’s tournament takes place from October 7 to November 5, with a final in Bombay, but it looks as if it will be the last.