Qamar Ahmed: ICC's 'eventful' meeting virtually a non-event (29 Jun 1998)

29 June 1998

ICC's 'eventful' meeting virtually a non-event

By Qamar Ahmed

LONDON: When it functioned as an outcrop of the MCC, the International Cricket Conference, as it was called then moved at a snails pace. Timely decision making was not their forte.

But when ICC as International Cricket Council with a highly paid chief executive became an independent organisation and moved its offices from the main Pavilion at Lord's to the nursery end, it was expected that the newly formed body under a new roof would at least adopt a new style and system to make things move faster. But it appears that its working is contrary to what many would have expected.

In an age of instant cricket, satellite and internet one would have thought they would keep up with the pace of the modern day requirements. But like in previous years decisions which need urgent attention remain in the bin and only trivial matters attract immediate attention. The recently concluded ICC meeting at Lord's was not much different in style or in substance. The president of the ICC described the meeting as "very eventful", but their most eventful decision, if one thinks it was eventful, was to give the West Indies the right in principle to hold the ninth World Cup in 2007, with some matches to be played in Bermuda, Canada and USA provided there are proper international facilities. And to award Canada the ICC Trophy in the July/August of 2001.

The seriousness of recent allegations made against players of bribery and fixing matches were thoroughly ignored and shoved under the carpet. Kidnapping of a country's captain's father for a day for alleged ransom and death threats to him and to a former Indian cricketer for making allegations against his colleagues is no ordinary matter and yet the ICC who are supposed to be controlling this game had nothing to say about it.

A hoard of media men had gathered at Lord's expecting that the much awaited decision on the idea of a World Championship of Test cricket will be made. But to the disappointment of everyone, nothing came out of that. "We could not take the decision", is all the President of the ICC could say. "This requires a lot of research," said David Richards, the chief executive. "In terms of the history of Test cricket it shouldn't be much longer" he said. The sub-committee evaluating the proposals to strengthen the standing of Test cricket, they said will continue over the next six months before a final decision is taken. It is understood that there are two alternative ideas for the concept. One is "ladder" ranking system, the brain child of Mathew Engel, the present editor of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. A ranking system of the kind which will gauge the performance of the Test playing countries for say three or four years period in Test cricket. The main aim according to Mathew Engel is, "To increase the status, importance and public appeal of all Test cricket, something that would be wholly negated by a "stand-alone" championship, a World Cup style competition staged every four years or so, that is what is the other concept which the ICC seems to favour.

The "stand-alone" concept is in real terms not practical because of the commitments of modern day cricket by various countries. In an age of instant cricket this could be a highly boring affair. Then there is also a question of timing and place. Can the modern day Test teams have the time to spare to play five day matches against every country at one place or in one country to decide who is the best. I think the Ladder idea is much more practical and if an equitable programme of Test tours between all countries is chalked out we may well have a World Champion of Test cricket. One does not, however, need too much of browsing to find who is the best at the moment.

England's cricket is thoroughly impotent at the moment as was seen at Lord's against South Africa and in the recent series against the West Indies. After their defeat by 10 wickets last week one suggested that their batting line-up needs to be assisted by shot in the arm. West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and New Zealand also fall in the same group. The rest remain strong candidates for the Test title.

Bangladesh will have to have a first class structure and their progress will be monitored by a three man sub-committee. Nasim-ul-Ghani, Bobby Simpson and Zimbabwean Andy Pycroft will visit Bangladesh soon to commence this process. Under-19 World Cup will be played every two years instead of four. France and Uganda are new associate members and there were three new affiliate members, Kuwait, Luxembourg and Malta named during the ICC meeting.

Source:: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)