Qamar Ahemad: Dalmiya takes over as new president (14 June 1997)

Saturday 14, June 1997

Dalmiya takes over as new president

From Qamar Ahemad in London

LONDON, June 13: The ICC conference started on Thursday to restructure and revamp the old and ageing and at times politically influenced body into a democratic and visionary institution.

The Chief Executive of the ICC David Richards, an Australian who had agreed an extension to a new contract will remain incharge and Sir Clyde Walcott the outgoing chairman of the ICC would chair the meeting for the last time before handing it over to Jagmohan Dalmiya who will be known as the President of the ICC.

The newly structured ICC Executive Board will be represented by delegate each form a rest playing country other three members elected by thee 23 associate members and the chairman of three advisory committees who will be responsible for the game, its finances and marketing.

The chair of the President will be rotating every three years, the next in line for the chair are the Australians and gone are the days when the head of the ICC had to have a majority of two third to be elected.

As was the case in the last ICC meeting when Jagmohan Dalmiya despite having won the voter was not handed over the chair of the ICC because he could not muster the required number of votes.

Bangladesh the winners of the ICC Trophy in Kuala Lumpur early this year have applied for Test status. It is being considered but surely they will not get that honour as early as this and they would have to wait at least a couple of years if they continue to perform at required level. Countries like Holland, Kenya, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark and Other associate countries will also be fully encouraged to develop their game and join them at the top level.

The two bounders law in force at moment would be continued for at least another year. Proposal of staging the World Cup every two years will be discussed but that may not be accepted because it is Test cricket which is on the agenda to get the face lift. Mathew Engel, the editor of the Wisen Cricket Monthly's world Test championship plan will be under consideration as will be that of Clive Ellis of `The Daily Telegraph'.

Engel's plan indicates that each of the nine Test playing countries play each other on home and away basis within a four year period and that anything between one and six Test would be acceptable according to him.

Ellis's plan is that every four year a World Test championship is conducted in a course of a calendar year, each team playing 16 Tests, eight home and eight away and these would be split in two Test series.

By operating once every four year Ellis says the teams will get ample opportunity to maintain traditional rivalries. It avoids the potential of tokenism and imbalance of the Wisden system which permits one match series and gives these equal value in terms of points awarded to series of five or even six Tests.

Each game counts, he says and the point system would be the same as football, three for a win, one for a draw, and nought for a defeat.

The championship starting in January of the calendar year would reach climax in December with eight of the nine teams involved in the final set of series.

The Director of the Untied Cricket Board of South Africa Dr. Ali Bacher thinks, the proposal should receive serious consideration from the ICC.

Whatever system is adopted, one thing is certain that there is going to be some kind of arrangement for Tests in future to make it more attractive for the dwindling crowd in the countries like Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

Further globalisation of the game is planned as per proposal of Dr. Bacher who thinks Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka look after the game in Gulf and such countries like Iran, Afghanistan. Australia and New Zealand cover the Pacific countries, England's sphere will be Europe and West Indies look to the Americas including Disneyland and Florida where some kind of cricket is to be organised to make to popular.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)