ICC’s proposed revenue-sharing model ‘a concern’

The ICC's proposed revenue-sharing model for the 2024-2027 cycle will see the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) take a huge slice of the pie, close to 40 per cent of ICC's net surplus revenue, a report by ESPNCricinfo said yesterday. The proposed model is a concern for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the rest of the boards.

England Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) are next biggest earners but their percentage will be under seven per cent. The remaining eight full members stand to receive under five per cent of the share.

The model is based upon ICC's sale of media rights at over US$ 3.2 billion and the majority of that number has been attained through sale of rights in the Indian market, with Disney Star paying over US$ 3 billion for four years.

According to the proposed model, the BCB would get US$ 26.74 million of the US$ 600 million annual earnings of ICC, which is 4.46 percent of the share. A few details had reportedly been shared during the ICC meeting and the figures discussed were based on criterions like performance in ICC events for both men and women's team in the past 16 years. The key component was the commercial value each board brings to the global pot and BCCI would stand to gain considerably from such a model.

The model has raised concerns within the BCB as well. "It is a proposed model and nothing concrete has happened. If you go through the details, there are a lot of issues to be concerned about. It's not just about one board as other boards are concerned too. This is an ongoing discussion and feedback on this will be sought. There are lots of procedures with the F&CA handling it before it is passed by the board," a source close to the BCB informed, requesting anonymity.

The proposed model closely resembles the one drafted nine years ago led by the BCCI, ECB and CA. That model faced objections and it remains to be seen how many objections are put forward this time around.