Cultural issues cloud player representation issue

Any player representative recognition by the International Cricket Council (ICC) has to be when all Test players are represented by that body.

When addressing a press conference at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo on Saturday, ICC president Malcolm Gray and chief executive Malcolm Speed spoke in detail about ICC's views on the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) and player representation.

Gray said: "As a central body, it will be easier for us to deal with a body that represents the players, as compared with the individuals.

"Some countries do have well-organised players' associations. In turn those country player associations have come together to form FICA. However, It is the belief of the board of ICC that FICA at present does not really represent all the international players," he added.

Gray explained the reasons for FICA not being recognised as the global players body. Without specifically naming any member boards, Gray definitely threw some darts at some members.

He said: "There are some national boards who do not believe in players being represented by player associations. A paper was presented to the ICC board to give FICA more representation and the board didn't agree with that.

"There is a paper going forward to the next board meeting (to be held on Monday and Tuesday in Colombo), whereby players will be given far better representation and voice in the management within ICC. Now whether that gets approved is something I can't say," said Gray.

Having said that, Gray played the diplomatic card, "ICC respects the sovereignty and the right of the individual boards to have their own views, in regard to player management. It is not up to us to interfere in the internal affairs of a country."

Chief executive Malcolm Speed elaborated on the player representation issue.

"In seven countries there are player representative groups. In the other countries there are no such representative groups, and they are quite vigorously opposed to having player representative groups.

"In October last year the management put forward a paper to the ICC board that FICA be given limited recognition to be invited to participate in different forms of ICC meetings. First of all, the chief executives of the boards rejected that. They were led by the chief executives of the countries that do not have formal player representative groups.

"Same recommendation went to the board and didn't achieve the necessary majority. For something to be resolved at the ICC executive board meeting, you need seven of the full member countries to vote for it," he added.

The ICC management under the two Malcolms from Australia have now put the onus on India's BCCI to negotiate with the Indian players. Given what the ICC management have to say about the player representation, it is quite apparent that the Indian players have to slug it out at home with their board.