Sadly the cricket that is not currently being played in India will prove much more significant than anything occurring between Pakistan and Australia in the UAE.
The decision by the West Indies squad to withdraw midway through their tour of India due to a pay dispute has shocked the cricket world.
Specifically, it has frustrated the Board of Cricket Control for India (BCCI) creating huge implications to the international game. The BCCI’s recent decision to pursue US$42m in damages from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for the lost matches highlights the increasing disparity between the ‘Big Three’ of India, Australia and England – and the rest of the cricket playing world.
Given the obscene amount of money and commercialisation in the game today, how can it be that the WICB, one of just ten full International Cricket Council (ICC) members, and historically one of the most popular and successful teams around the world, has annual revenues of less than US$30m – roughly equivalent to the North Melbourne Football Club?
KPMG’s audit report of WICB for 2013 states “…the company incurred a net loss of US$5,821,413 (2012: $14,873,774) during the year ended September 30 2013 and as at that date, it had shareholders deficiency of US$5,693,323. These factors raise substantial doubt that the company will be able to continue as a going concern.”
The senior West Indies squad are rightly upset that their pay has been substantially slashed although it is interesting to note the West Indies A team continued their Sri Lankan tour.
Historically many players on the fringe of the West Indies team have either been lost to the game, forced to play club cricket abroad or even tour Apartheid-era South Africa in order to make a living.
In an admirable and long overdue attempt to revive the game in the region, the WICB in conjunction with the West Indies Player’s Association (WIPA) are attempting to professionalise the game at the domestic level by offering relatively modest but more secure contracts for their 80-90 domestic players – with most salaries expected to range from US$34,000 to $54,000.
An extra million or two swiftly distributed from either BCCI or the ICC (now significantly controlled by the big three) could have easily avoided this strike.
Inept and greedy leadership by both has contributed to this current fiasco. The BCCI has now lost more than US$40m in revenues and then in an hilariously futile move, tried to hold their financially crippled opponent – who could only dream of a share of this income – responsible. BCCI have now also suspended bi-lateral cricketing relations with the WICB.
For the senior West Indies squad, led by Dwayne Bravo, perhaps some patience was required to see if their view was shared by the majority of the membership of the WIPA and if so, to go through the process of electing new WIPA leadership.
WIPA President and CEO Wavell Hinds has so far been immovable, probably confident he has the majority of membership on his side. Both the WICB and WIPA have however showed a terrible lack of urgency and communication. My suspicion is that WICB are resigned to the fact that they will struggle to negotiate further as there is literally no more money.
West Indies future in international cricket is now in serious doubt. To remain competitive surely the region that has produced names like Headley, Sobers, Richards, Marshall, Ambrose, Lara and Chanderpaul and thrilled millions of fans around the world deserves a fairer distribution of revenues despite its own relatively small population.
The ICC is not only failing to invest seriously for the future in new markets, it gives scant support even to existing struggling members and it seems international cricket is increasingly revolving around the short term interests of the big three.
Johnno, our stadiums only fit 12000-14000 even if you fill it at the going ticket prices and currency strength it won't make a diiference, the fact is cricket is just not that big in SA
Johnno
Guest
BB what needs to be done is for South Africans to actually turn up to test-matches at home. Only the Newlands faithful give a stuff about test cricket in south africa. Everywhere else they don't turn up. SA need to turn up to tests if they want to tell India to get nicked $.
All true, but something needs to be done, I am not sure what, even the school yard bully gets his day.
ChrisB
Guest
While talk of the smaller nations standing together is noble, it's impractical. Basically everyone (including Aus and England) know that if they play hardball the BCCI will do a Packer and buy all their players. I suspect the real reason these two got into bed with India was to protect what remained of the sanctity of tests - the Ashes primarily. At the moment, so financially dominant are the Indians, anything survives at their whim. The rest know that if too much pressure is applied, they'll just buy the big names and run the whole show themselves.
I suspect the WI tour to SA is in doubt as well, was it not a year ago the BCCI hurt CSA by a similar amount when they played hardball with us? What goes around comes around. The smaller nations must stand together and let the big dogs play with themselves.
Bobbo7
Guest
Only 30 million for the WI. Unfortunately, the money side of things will ruin some countries. The big 3 need to ensure they don't ruin it for themselves in all of this. I fear there will be n common sense. WI are a mess but they need help from the big 3, not punshment
Camo McD
Roar Guru
It's an interesting idea Johnno. Barbados could conceivably have had the best team in the world at one stage. Personally I was shocked just how relatively small the WICB was financially. With more investment I think West Indies could again be a force in test cricket however if the BCCI bankrupt them or they go under regardless, maybe the different nations of the West Indies will try to compete as separate entities in international cricket.
Camo McD
Roar Guru
I agree Swampy. The game seems to be generating plenty of money but when you consider Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe have at times had problems paying their 1st XI and now the issues with the Windies it is sad to think that it does not seem to be reaching where it is needed most.
Swampy
Guest
What was it that CA announced last week? It made $300m in revenue last year? I can only imagine the BCCI revenue is at least five times that. Surely there is an aspect of socialism required here - the wealthy countries should be creating a fund for at least the grass roots cricket in the poor nations. It's just pure greed in my opinion - cricket in this country is (somehow) in rude health. we can afford to run all our domestic comps at losses and state cricketers can make mightily healthy incomes despite there being little or no commercial interest in any domestic comp other than the big bash. For the on going health of the game played only by a few nations we really need to look after the financial minnows otherwise it really will only be sth Africa England India and Australia left. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Johnno
Guest
West Indies as a brand is losing it's relevance, and may just die and fold altogether, from all forms of the game, not just Test cricket. All these countries merging on a full time basis, is just not working it seems. The Lions in rugby, only hook up every 4 years, not full-time. Also Test-cricket is an expensive sport, the West indies nations don't seem to have the cash to stay good at it. T20 and ODI are it's futures. But maybe these teams eg Jamaica,Barbados,Trinadad and Tobago, would go better at it alone, despite losing player depth. They could run there own shows, and maybe just maybe be able to then develop more talent, as they will have a better off-field united business model, not always fractured. They have tried pacific islander merged rugby teams, only for that to be a failure too. They are all different cultures and countries too,to expect these countries to all just merge to be stronger, is naive really and ignorant.