Cricket or Politics — Is the ICC losing its core purpose?

[nuttyprof]

SA not only survived by flourishd despite not playing international cricket.

Why will cricket will die in Paksitan just because this BCCI and ICC saga?

Pakistan has 250M population and cricket as the biggest sports. Once economy gets better in Pakistan , no reason to not tap into that and generated enough money.

Cricket is not going anywhere in Pakistan.

South Africa had a flourishing economy which kept the cricket alive. Rand was stronger than USD. Pakistan doesn’t have that luxury.
Look at hockey and squash. Sports is an expensive business and hence positive correlation between economy and Olympic medal tally

 

[r3alist]

You're right as the market and money often dictate terms.

SA not only survived by flourishd despite not playing international cricket.

Why will cricket will die in Paksitan just because this BCCI and ICC saga?

Pakistan has 250M population and cricket as the biggest sports. Once economy gets better in Pakistan , no reason to not tap into that and generated enough money.

Cricket is not going anywhere in Pakistan.

If you don't get to play regular cricket, all over the world, for more than 3 tests how do you develop well honed competitive skills

The financial disparity will mirror the playing disparity

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Some statements that outgoing ICC Chairman Greg Barclay made in an interview. Quite telling and I guess also goes to show how powerless he is despite being the Chairman of the ICC:

"I think he's [Jay Shah] got a great opportunity to use what he's got in his background to help India take the game to another level, but without making it sort of under the yoke of India as well."

"We're really lucky to have India, they're a massive contributor to the game across all the measures, but one country having that amount of power and influence does distort a whole lot of other outcomes, which is not necessarily helpful in terms of that global growth."

On Australia not playing Afghanistan though its funny how it applies to a certain other rivalry aswell:

"If you really want to make a political statement, don't play them in a World Cup. Sure, it might cost you a semi-final place, but principles are principles. It's not about having half a principle."

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Some statements that outgoing ICC Chairman Greg Barclay made in an interview. Quite telling and I guess also goes to show how powerless he is despite being the Chairman of the ICC:

"I think he's [Jay Shah] got a great opportunity to use what he's got in his background to help India take the game to another level, but without making it sort of under the yoke of India as well."

"We're really lucky to have India, they're a massive contributor to the game across all the measures, but one country having that amount of power and influence does distort a whole lot of other outcomes, which is not necessarily helpful in terms of that global growth."

On Australia not playing Afghanistan though its funny how it applies to a certain other rivalry aswell:

"If you really want to make a political statement, don't play them in a World Cup. Sure, it might cost you a semi-final place, but principles are principles. It's not about having half a principle."

It was a rather poor interview.

He claimed to have been unaware that South Africa were playing international cricket currently as a result of how congested the cricket schedule is

That's quite poor from a chairman of what is essentially a 12 team sport.

Now he has placed all the burden at Jay Shahs feet despite being at the helm for four years.

 

[charlie007]

ICC doesn’t govern countries and their policies and hence has no say whatsoever. They couldn’t make Australia host the Afghans since the last few years, couldn’t have England travel to Zimbabwe, and will have no say on whether India travel to Pakistan.
Sport has and will always remain below the societal, ideological, and political relations.
It doesn’t matter who comes into power, the cricket governing body itself lacks jurisdiction.

 

[sweep_shot]

There is no ICC currently. It is practically BCCICC. They should change the name to that.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

It was a rather poor interview.

He claimed to have been unaware that South Africa were playing international cricket currently as a result of how congested the cricket schedule is

That's quite poor from a chairman of what is essentially a 12 team sport.

Now he has placed all the burden at Jay Shahs feet despite being at the helm for four years.

Don't really blame him for not knowing that. The international cricket calendar is a joke with the endless amount of bilateral T20I series.

And you're saying as if he was actually in control of the ICC and responsible for any of the key decision-making. He was just a decoration piece like any other ICC Chairman who isn't Indian would be.

 

[r3alist]

Some statements that outgoing ICC Chairman Greg Barclay made in an interview. Quite telling and I guess also goes to show how powerless he is despite being the Chairman of the ICC:

"I think he's [Jay Shah] got a great opportunity to use what he's got in his background to help India take the game to another level, but without making it sort of under the yoke of India as well."

"We're really lucky to have India, they're a massive contributor to the game across all the measures, but one country having that amount of power and influence does distort a whole lot of other outcomes, which is not necessarily helpful in terms of that global growth."

On Australia not playing Afghanistan though its funny how it applies to a certain other rivalry aswell:

"If you really want to make a political statement, don't play them in a World Cup. Sure, it might cost you a semi-final place, but principles are principles. It's not about having half a principle."

The money is great, but ultimately BCCI control not great long term.

 

[Buffet]

ICC is useless.

They knew the sitaution before gving tournament to Pakistan. Entire tournement should have been happening in Pakistan. Nothing has changed from 2021 to now. This whole hybrid stuff is non-sense.

 

[FearlessRoar]

The most striking aspect of the Champions Trophy saga is that the ICC has yet to make any public statement regarding the delay. Once a governing body, it has now been reduced to an event management organization, and it no longer appears to be effectively managing events.

 

[Major]

If there is one board that has a chance to take on the politics of ICC/BCCI its PCB.

But for that to happen, you need an educated Pakistani awaam, with an educated Pakistani govt with a whole PCB staff filled with educated people.

The biggest advantage PCB has is that BCCI is involved in discrimination, be it with regards to IPL or International cricket. If PCB was to create awareness on this issue and file proper cases they can easily beat BCCI down. Remember, ICC sanctions BCCI/IPL, ICC doesnt come under BCCI.

Now to do all this, you need an educated board. Our board is filled with desi people that dont know about whats going on in the world, and how you can take advantage of a woke society.

This is why education is important everywhere in life, you atleast know what your rights are. PCB officials think that international bodies also run like Pakistan.

For 16 years BCCI has been involved in discrimination. They will one day get caught and have to pay a hefty price for it.

321....... in comes unpaid bcci lawyers......

 

[Major]

ICC doesn’t govern countries and their policies and hence has no say whatsoever. They couldn’t make Australia host the Afghans since the last few years, couldn’t have England travel to Zimbabwe, and will have no say on whether India travel to Pakistan.
Sport has and will always remain below the societal, ideological, and political relations.
It doesn’t matter who comes into power, the cricket governing body itself lacks jurisdiction.

you really need to go watch some football or follow how FIFA runs itself.

 

[Buffet]

If you don't get to play regular cricket, all over the world, for more than 3 tests how do you develop well honed competitive skills

The financial disparity will mirror the playing disparity

Except India, Pakistan can play regularly against all other teams with 3 or more tests. What stopping Pakistan to do so? ICC does not dictate bilateral series. I think you are being too pessimistic.

 

[Buffet]

The most striking aspect of the Champions Trophy saga is that the ICC has yet to make any public statement regarding the delay. Once a governing body, it has now been reduced to an event management organization, and it no longer appears to be effectively managing events.

+1

ICC should have been on top of it due to being the governing body.

 

[sweep_shot]

ICC is useless.

They knew the sitaution before gving tournament to Pakistan. Entire tournement should have been happening in Pakistan. Nothing has changed from 2021 to now. This whole hybrid stuff is non-sense.

ICC should've replaced India with SL. That would've been the right thing to do.

 

[FearlessRoar]

The ongoing disagreement between PCB and BCCI over the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 shows how weak the ICC looks when it comes to Indian politics. The PCB suggested a hybrid model with a "partnership formula," but BCCI rejected it, and the ICC hasn’t stepped in to solve the issue. This is causing delays, and broadcasters are now pushing for the schedule to be finalized. The situation is complicated by the political influence of India and the strong position of the BCCI within the ICC. It’s frustrating to see how the ICC is struggling to make a decision, caught between politics and the game.

 

[r3alist]

Except India, Pakistan can play regularly against all other teams with 3 or more tests. What stopping Pakistan to do so? ICC does not dictate bilateral series. I think you are being too pessimistic.

The lack of big test series cricket, past and future is simply the reality

 

[Hitman]

ICC should've replaced India with SL. That would've been the right thing to do.

Slight problem.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/champions-trophy-without-india-impossible-broadcasters-tell-icc-pcb-absent-from-hybrid-model-meeting-101733413111429.html

 

[KB]

I think those that are interested in the cricket and those that run cricket need to ask themselves what is the role of money in the game: is it a means or is it an end? Or to put it in the words of Gideon Haigh: “does cricket make money in order to exist, or does it exist in order to make money?”

To be sure commercialisation has brought many benefits to the game over the years. Players are better remunerated. Innovation has been enabled. There is no longer room for the condescension and paternalism of the old stuffy ruling guard.

But surely it has gone too far. We now have the absurd situation where ICC manipulates which teams are put in which groups to maximise income.

Money has become the testimony of faith for many in the game: ‘there is no God, but money’.