Speed: more trouble ahead

The new president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has called on its members to end their divisions for the good of the sport. "We are dependent on each other. Without each other, cricket's spirit, its future and its traditions are compromised," said Ehsan Mani, who has succeeded Malcolm Gray at the helm of the ICC. "It is time to forge a stronger alliance that will help take the game forward."

Mani, who was previously the ICC's treasurer, was speaking at Lord's following the annual conference. He accepted that the various cultures, traditions and identities that were represented in world cricket made disagreements inevitable, but urged the ten full-member nations to pull together for the game's sake. Mani and ICC's chief executive, Malcolm Speed, plan to visit each of the major countries over the next few months.

Speed warned, however, that there may be further rifts to come before any of the recent wounds are fully healed. Several teams have refused to travel to Pakistan because of security fears, while India-Pakistan relations have been suspended by their governments. And the fallout from the boycotts and sponsorship rows during the 2003 World Cup has yet to resolved.

The ICC faces compensation demands from broadcasters and sponsors after two Cup games were forfeited by England and New Zealand because of security concerns, while India's players refused to surrender their image-rights to the official tournament sponsors. The ICC would contest any claims, said Speed, but, should it lose, it will pursue some of its members for part of the money.

"It is always a difficult time for an organisation when it makes claims against it own members," said Speed. India's board president Jagmohan Dalmiya made it clear just how difficult that time would be, indicating that he would do everything in his power to avoid paying any compensation.