ICC CEO reminds BCCI of obligations as part of the international cricket community

ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed has written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to remind it of the obligations it has as a member of the international cricket community.

"I have read a number of media reports emanating from BCCI in which you and other BCCI officials are quoted as spokesmen on behalf of the Board," said Mr Speed in the letter to BCCI Honorary Secretary Mr Niranjan Shah.

"The President (Ehsan Mani) and I are both very concerned that BCCI is moving ahead and taking what appear to be unilateral decisions that are contrary to ICC policy as agreed by the ICC members including BCCI.

"I wish to remind BCCI of three important decisions that have been taken by the ICC and IDI (the commercial arm of the ICC) Boards in recent times.

"At its meeting in Auckland on 9 March, 2004, the ICC Executive Board resolved to adopt the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP).

"The effect of this decision is that the FTP is binding on all of the members of ICC, including BCCI. Any attempt by a Member to amend it unilaterally without the consent of the ICC Executive Board is invalid.

"At its meeting in Sydney on 11 October 2005, the IDI Board resolved that ICC would stage one major event each year through to and including 2015.

"At its meeting in Sydney on 11 October, 2005, the ICC Executive Board resolved that the priority for scheduling matches would be as follows:

"With the greatest of respect to BCCI, could I urge you to take these decisions into account when you are considering scheduling of matches," he said.

Mr Speed explained that the next appropriate forums to discuss ICC policy were the Chief Executives' Committee and Executive Board meetings scheduled for February and March 2006 respectively.

He reiterated a previous offer from Mr Mani to provide the BCCI with a full briefing on ICC policy ahead of these meetings.