ICC to Embrace American Revolution (14 Sep 1996)

ICC embrace American revolution

By Mihir Bose

THE Hilton Hotel at New York`s Kennedy Airport is an unlikely place for a cricket revolution. But in the appropriately named London Suite, under the noise of jet aircraft, over the last two days the great and good of international cricket have been trying to broker a deal which they hope will finally open the last frontier of cricket: the United States.

The prizes are alluring. America could become the most lucrative centre for cricket other than Britain. By 2003 it could cohost the World Cup along with the West Indies - and cricket might become part of Disney World in Florida.

First, however, American cricket must put its house in order and it is the unhappy state of the game`s organisation that took Sir Clyde Walcott, president of the International Cricket Council, and David Richards, the chief executive, to the London Suite.

The two-day New York summit cost the ICC more than 10,000, which they will consider money well spent if one unified body emerges to represent American cricket. There is an existing body called the United States Cricket Association, an associate member of the ICC, but their right to represent the America has been severely challenged by a rival United States Cricket Federation.

Set up only this February in Philadelphia - the historic home of American cricket where Grace, Ranji, Trumper and Jessop all played - the federation already represent some 170 clubs, three times as many as the association. Their advisory committee includes Sir Richard Hadlee, Peter Short, the former president of the West Indian Cricket Board, and our own Hubert Doggart.

In July the USCF presented an impressive report to the ICC alleging lack of democratic control and accountability by the USCA. Most worrying was the fact that the allegations concerned the association`s accounts.

An independent accountant`s report examining financial statements for seven years between 1987 and 1995 said: "The quality of the reports examined does not seem to exhibit the necessary record-keeping of an organisation which is part of a worldwide entity."

The independent accountant was also worried about the tax returns of the USCA, a non-profit-making body. The accountant concluded that the books and records of the USCA should be presented to an independent body for audit.

All this has forced the association into change. In July they changed their long-term president, as well as the secretary and treasurer. There is talk of rewriting the constitution to make it more democratic.

Nevertheless, Ricky Craig, the Barbadian Consul General in New York, who is effectively head of the association, is dismissive of the USCF. He accuses them of claiming bogus members, which they deny.

The rivalry between the two bodies has spilled on to the streets of New York. In July Craig turned up at the Pig and Whistle pub in Manhattan, where the federation were holding a recruiting meeting, and this led to a public row.

Richards accepts that the report prepared by the federation raises serious issues, but the ICC have to be careful. They have never been faced with a situation where two bodies claim to represent the same cricketing country and have no powers to eject a member country.

Walcott and Richards spent Thursday meeting both American cricket bodies and yesterday got them both together in the London Suite to try to broker a compromise which will lead to fresh elections, a new constitution and the ICC acting as a sort of referee. Two weeks ago a similar peace meeting in Barbados, organised by the West Indies, fell through because Craig did not turn up. He told me: "I have no desire to sit across the table with them." Under ICC pressure he has had to.

THE role of the West Indies is crucial. Under ICC rules they are supposed to be the elder brother bringing up American cricket. They have done little of that over the years but now the presence of West Indian immigrants in the United States is changing the picture. Florida, little more than an hour from Jamaica, is the fastest-growing cricket centre in the country and many of the West Indian cricketing greats live there, including Lance Gibbs, Alf Valentine and Lawrence Rowe. Also, West Indian tourists make a significant contribution to the Florida economy, bringing in as much as $10 billion a year.

This is one of the reasons why Disney are interested in cricket. They plan to expand their Orlando Disney World and have a cricket pitch in their new sports stadium. They feel a properly organised series of cricket matches between Testplaying nations could act as a magnet for West Indian and other cricketing tourists, perhaps from as far afield as Australia. The aim would be to stage matches in early spring and autumn, when the number of visitors is traditionally low.

The West Indies are also beginning to see America as a useful card in their attempt to bid for the 2003 World Cup. Although this has been promised to South Africa, the West Indies are putting together a bid which would involve matches being played in Miami, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia in addition to the Caribbean. If American cricket develops, the West Indies might even be prepared to play Test matches in Miami or Orlando.

There are no illusions that America could become a major Test-playing country. But the game is spreading - albeit through ex-patriot Indians, Pakistanis and West Indians - and the West Indies see it as their version of Sharjah. The appeal of the game to Americanbased ex-patriots, combined with the possibilities of a worldwide television audience, could further help the West Indian board match their sporting prowess in the field with money off it.

All this comes as the West Indian Board are, at last, coming into money. They have a five-year $12.3 million sponsorship deal with Cable and Wireless and lucrative television contracts. One sign of prosperity will be on display in Jamaica next Tuesday when the West Indian Board will honour 142 cricketers who have played Tests for them. It is an all-expenses-paid holiday and the aim is to repair the player-board relationships which have been under so much stress in recent years. A thriving American scene allied to the West Indies could further strengthen the West Indian Board.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/)