The road to splitsville

It's appropriate in a week where cricket celebrated the anniversary of Sir Donald Bradman's 100th birthday, to recall one of his most memorable quotes: "We're all custodians of the game."

That was a reminder to cricketers that they should treat the game with respect while playing and attempt to keep it strong. Though he served many years as an administrator, it doesn't appear that Bradman's message got through to his fellow officials.

The ICC had had a year that was already as bleak as the one experienced by many of the world's large financial institutions, but they sank even further into the mire when they dithered over the Champions Trophy.

It was a commendable sentiment to try and support the beleaguered Pakistan Cricket Board. However, it was fairly obvious from an early stage that at least half the teams had no intention of sending their players into what they felt was an unsafe environment. The ICC had already endured strident criticism for their handling of the 2007 World Cup, especially its farcical finish, and it was in cricket's best interest for the governing body to salvage some pride with a smooth-running Champions Trophy tournament.

With the proliferation of Twenty20 tournaments, the cricket calendar is filling up faster than a prom queen's dance card. It will now require some fancy manoeuvring to find a window that suits all nations for the postponed tournament. In addition, there's no guarantee that in 12 months' time Pakistan is going to seem any safer to those players who already harbour negative thoughts about the country.

The ICC's dithering has succeeded in driving a rift between Pakistan and some of the other major cricket nations, especially Australia. This is not a conducive atmosphere for rational decision-making in the future, especially considering how well known the ICC is for its politicking and power broking.

When the storm clouds gathered and talk about moving to an alternate venue gained momentum, India stood strongly behind Pakistan. At that point it appeared as though the ICC might split along ethnic lines, as has been predicted many times before. The situation reminded me of the story related by the extremely funny American comedian Jeff Foxworthy. He went with his family to Disney World and after his brother had spent ages queuing to obtain Goofy's autograph, Foxworthy told him, "It's only a kid in a Goofy costume." To which his brother replied, "No, I'm pretty sure this is the real one."

It sounds daft, but as the arguments over the Champions Trophy raged and the ICC looked to be on the verge of splintering, I couldn't help thinking, "I'm pretty sure this is the real split."

Bradman was right. We are all custodians of the game, but just it is like out on the field, there are both good and bad keepers  

That the ICC allowed the debate to run for so long and end in such acrimony is hard to understand. If there's one thing it does well, it is placate vested interests. If they could find a way to appease all the member nations following the meeting on the Zimbabwe crisis, then surely there was a path through the Champions Trophy maze.

Now, not only have they caused a dangerous rift among the major nations but much-needed funds for the development of the game have been spent on a tournament that has been called off. I'd be surprised if the ICC didn't also have some disgruntled business partners in the form of the television rights holder and sponsors. Even worse, the players must feel the international itinerary is a plaything to be pushed, prodded or pulled in any direction. That is one sure way to devalue the game. It is a major concern.

While delivering the Bradman oration, Australian captain Ricky Ponting talked about the need for administrators to get the balance right between scheduling the long and short versions of the game. He spoke of the need to ensure young players continue to hold playing for their country as their highest ideal, rather than pursuing the almighty dollar. In other words, being good "custodians of the game."

However, it's hard to expect young players to have such high ideals if they are constantly seeing the game devalued. Bradman was right. We are all custodians of the game, but just like it is out on the field, there are both good and bad keepers.