'If India becomes weak, we become weak' - BCB chief

BCB chief Nazmul Hassan has said that the issues India have with the ICC's proposed revenue model need to be sorted as a "weaker BCCI means weaker Bangladesh".

The BCB chief, who is also a part of ICC working group, met the BCCI's Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai in Delhi today, to discuss issues related to the ICC board meeting later this month.

"Everybody is trying to find a middle path to solve [the revenue structure problem] in a more amicable manner," Hassan said after his meeting with the CoA, according to PTI. "We don't want any member country to get hurt. Especially India as they have always supported us. If India becomes weak, we also become weak."

However, Hassan is an advocate of equitable distribution of ICC revenue. "I was a party to the decision when N Srinivasan was there [as ICC head] and the Big Three concept was mooted. Look, I believe we need a more equitable distribution but that certainly doesn't mean you take away India's share. No, no that's not what we want."

Hassan said there was still a need, though, to help member countries which are going through financial crises.

Asked about the proposed changes to the ICC's governance structure, Hassan said different member countries had different issues with it. "Not all of us had agreed on the governance structure. There are a lot of issues that others don't agree and there are some with which we don't agree. That's why it was placed at the ICC board meeting for everybody's observation."

Hassan said both the BCCI and the BCB have submitted their observations on the governance issue with the ICC. He said the BCB discussed its reservations with the CoA. "The COA put forth their point on what their concerns on revenue model and governance structure are, while we also told them why we are supporting a few issues and not all. We will meet again and want more countries to join us," he said.

Hassan also met ICC chairman Shashank Manohar in Nagpur before his meeting with the CoA in Delhi. Hassan is part of the five-man ICC steering group lead by Manohar, which prepared the new draft constitution, which will be discussed at the second quarterly meeting of the ICC board later this month in Dubai.

Hassan said the steering group will be meeting before the ICC meetings to discuss the responses filed by various Full Member boards on the draft constitution. According to Hassan, he met Manohar to discuss a possible date for the steering group's meeting. "We are trying to find a suitable date because there are lot of recommendations from various boards. [If] we have to incorporate changes, we need to change the governance structure and finalise it before the next [ICC] board meeting."

Rai told PTI that many ICC-member directors had met with the CoA recently. David Peever (Cricket Australia, chairman), Haroon Lorgat (Cricket South Africa, CEO), Tavengwa Mukuhlani (Zimbabwe Cricket, chairman), Thilanga Sumathipala (Sri Lanka Cricket, president), Dave Cameron (WICB, president) and Associate representative Imran Khawaja were in India to meet the CoA in the last few weeks, Rai said.

Asked if he was hopeful that other Full Member boards would agree with the viewpoint expressed by the the CoA last month on its reservations regarding the ICC's draft constituion, Rai said he was optimistic. "I am very confident as we have proposed a formula that will be acceptable to everyone. It is a win-win situation where the Indian cricket board will not lose out on anything and every other board will benefit from the model. In the last two weeks, discussions with every board head who has come to India has been fruitful."