Why did the Big 3 have to take over cricket?

[menace2society]

What I don't understand is why was it explicitly necessary for the Big 3 to come out and declare themselves as the controlling powers of cricket?

Wouldn't it have been more professional for a FIFA like organisation being created which is independent and impartial? I understand they pump in more money than the others, I am not denying their right to certain perks.

But surely it could have been handled differently.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

FIFA are probably more corrupt than the ICC believe it or not.

To answer the OP, money is the sole reason. Australia,India and England benefit hugely from this. The rest stay largely the same, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe lose a little and the Associates lose 250 million dollars.

 

[Convict]

Why would the big 3 give up power to a FIFA style body?

 

[nish_mate]

What I don't understand is why was it explicitly necessary for the Big 3 to come out and declare themselves as the controlling powers of cricket?

Wouldn't it have been more professional for a FIFA like organisation being created which is independent and impartial? I understand they pump in more money than the others, I am not denying their right to certain perks.

But surely it could have been handled differently.

FIFAS independent and impartial- the FIFA which doesnt want to give England the WC rights, but is happy to hold them in Qatar and Russia lol

 

[Junaids]

FIFA is bad but it is a model of rectitude and good governance compared with the ICC.

The Woolf Report showed the ICC how to be a world class, profitable and effective body. And India decided to do the opposite of every major Woolf recommendation.

 

[nish_mate]

FIFA is bad but it is a model of rectitude and good governance compared with the ICC.

The Woolf Report showed the ICC how to be a world class, profitable and effective body. And India decided to do the opposite of every major Woolf recommendation.

and ROW agreed to India getting away with it- shameful really not standing upto the bullies

 

[Convict]

The Big Three takeover formalised an informal system that already existed.

India traded out having to bribe it's way to a majority of ten nations to only having to bribe two.

And Australia and England secured themselves political power that they had lost.

It's not ideal but it's quite understandable- when ten boards work for their own personal best interest (and all ten boards are just as guilty) the strongest will create a cartel to dominate the rest.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

FIFA is bad but it is a model of rectitude and good governance compared with the ICC.

The Woolf Report showed the ICC how to be a world class, profitable and effective body. And India decided to do the opposite of every major Woolf recommendation.

Football is a massive game globally so there is less scope for individual countries dominating the sport and dictating to the rest. Cricket is tiny by comparison and with the carve up between the Big 3 it's not likely to grow either. Not that it looked like there was much potential for growth anyway.

 

[cricketindiafan]

Urge to have more power.

Let there be a time when NZ and Sri Lanka have an opportunity to consolidate more power in their hands and they will do the same as Big 3.

 

[AZ]

 

[Sandeep]

Naive..


$$$$$

 

[godzilla]

FIFA are probably more corrupt than the ICC believe it or not.

To answer the OP, money is the sole reason. Australia,India and England benefit hugely from this. The rest stay largely the same, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe lose a little and the Associates lose 250 million dollars.

i reckon it was a combination of money and the mismanagement, ineptitude incompetence and corruption in many of the other boards around the world eg wicb and pcb.

 

[Ottoman]

i reckon it was a combination of money and the mismanagement, ineptitude incompetence and corruption in many of the other boards around the world eg wicb and pcb.

its there inherent right bro, which other 7 teams were not giving to them, so they took it.

 

[nish_mate]

its there inherent right bro, which other 7 teams were not giving to them, so they took it.

not inherent but earnt right i would say

 

[Ottoman]

not inherent but earnt right i would say

How bro?

 

[Electron]

Think about it this way. World's top-3 best administered boards are running Cricket now, good for all.

 

[nish_mate]

How bro?

through the biggest markets and better organisation and management...

Now BCCI is a bully and an centric organisation I agree, but they have tapped into the markets in a very savvy manners and do have a commercial nous...

same with ECB & CA- now if PCB was better managed and there werent troubles in Pakistan- I would say Pakistan is the 2nd biggest cricket market in the world and BCCI would be more comfy being allied with them and we could have seen a Big 4 takeover.

 

[Ottoman]

Think about it this way. World's top-3 best administered boards are running Cricket now, good for all.

But there are/were corruption & Match fixing charges against 1 of the Big 3.

 

[Electron]

But there are/were corruption & Match fixing charges against 1 of the Big 3.

Yes, and all these charges have been cleared. I think people were being a little too harsh on Mr. Srinivasan just because he has the looks of a cunning man.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Agree with this bit:

Think about it this way. World's top-3 best administered boards are running Cricket now

Not with this bit:

good for all

 

[biggestdravidfan]

What I don't understand is why was it explicitly necessary for the Big 3 to come out and declare themselves as the controlling powers of cricket?

Wouldn't it have been more professional for a FIFA like organisation being created which is independent and impartial? I understand they pump in more money than the others, I am not denying their right to certain perks.

But surely it could have been handled differently.

 

[Canistani Hero]

Money Money Money

 

[Electron]

Not with this bit:

I can understand why. But I am optimistic, and to be honest, Big3 haven't looked too bad so far.

 

[Bilal7]

We can say goodbye to the dream of cricket being played by more than a handful of countries now. The weakest boards are the ones that are hurt the most by this takeover and fledgling cricketing countries like Afghanistan and Ireland will have their passion for cricket sucked out by the Big 3.

Only an independent entity will be able to expand the game all over the world.

 

[godzilla]

through the biggest markets and better organisation and management...

Now BCCI is a bully and an centric organisation I agree, but they have tapped into the markets in a very savvy manners and do have a commercial nous...

same with ECB & CA- now if PCB was better managed and there werent troubles in Pakistan- I would say Pakistan is the 2nd biggest cricket market in the world and BCCI would be more comfy being allied with them and we could have seen a Big 4 takeover.

i agree with this totally, both in terms of commercial savvy and the pcb. i would add though that commercial nous alone to my mind will destroy the game. the game should come first and then commercial optimisation ought to be attempted from there. the bcci have that ass backwards, and by association, so do their two little puppies the ecb and acb.

 

[godzilla]

through the biggest markets and better organisation and management...

Now BCCI is a bully and an centric organisation I agree, but they have tapped into the markets in a very savvy manners and do have a commercial nous...

same with ECB & CA- now if PCB was better managed and there werent troubles in Pakistan- I would say Pakistan is the 2nd biggest cricket market in the world and BCCI would be more comfy being allied with them and we could have seen a Big 4 takeover.

i agree with this totally, both in terms of commercial savvy and the pcb. i would add though that commercial nous alone to my mind will destroy the game. the game should come first and then commercial optimisation ought to be attempted from there. the bcci have that ass backwards, and by association, so do their two little puppies the ecb and acb.

 

[yadunoe]

The Big Three takeover formalised an informal system that already existed.

India traded out having to bribe it's way to a majority of ten nations to only having to bribe two.

And Australia and England secured themselves political power that they had lost.

It's not ideal but it's quite understandable- when ten boards work for their own personal best interest (and all ten boards are just as guilty) the strongest will create a cartel to dominate the rest.

exactly they just formalized what was happening behind closed doors

 

[JaDed]

Hindu Baniya's Greed.

Terrible comment!

 

[JaDed]

Its money and power on the topic and lets not behave as if India is the only country that is doing this and blame it on all one religion as someone just did!

 

[Mamoon]

To conspire against Pakistan cricket.

 

[IndianWillow]

The Big Three takeover formalised an informal system that already existed.

India traded out having to bribe it's way to a majority of ten nations to only having to bribe two.

And Australia and England secured themselves political power that they had lost.

It's not ideal but it's quite understandable- when ten boards work for their own personal best interest (and all ten boards are just as guilty) the strongest will create a cartel to dominate the rest.

Yes. With or without this take over, the Big 3 nexus has existed behind the scenes for over a decade now. All that was needed to foil this attempt was three votes. Just shows how every board is responsible for the formation of the big 3, for satisfying their own interests.

 

[cricket geek]

why should Big three not take over ICC

 

[JibranAnsari]

If PCB had taken care of the affairs in the last 20 years they could have been in a better position in the ICC board.

Just go back 17-18 years back and dig out what was BCCI and how they transformed themselves in this period. These boards have kept themselves in order and deserve all the rights now.

 

[Junaids]

why should Big three not take over ICC

There is virtually no reason why Australia should be in the "Big" group.

In effect, the revenue reflects the affluent cricket audience in each country and what it spends on subscriptions for Pay-TV or adverts for free-to-air to TV.

But the demographic groups involved vary widely:

India: middle-class of perhaps 150 million with Pay-TV, perhaps 100 million viewers.
England: cricket reduced to Sky Sport subscribers who attended private schools - now approx 5 million followers, but only 1.5 million viewers.
Australia: perhaps 10 million people interested in cricket, usually around 1 million viewers.
New Zealand: 2.5 million people interested in cricket, usually around 300,000 viewers.
South Africa: cricket followed by around 2.5 million male white people, usually around 300,000 viewers.

In other words, there is actually a Big One - India.

 

[Electron]

We can say goodbye to the dream of cricket being played by more than a handful of countries now. The weakest boards are the ones that are hurt the most by this takeover and fledgling cricketing countries like Afghanistan and Ireland will have their passion for cricket sucked out by the Big 3.

Only an independent entity will be able to expand the game all over the world.

)

Who had that dream? What did other boards do to achieve this dream in the last 50 years??

Big3 ke banne pe hi dream yaad aaya bhai-jaan?

 

[MarkCooper]

As the Indian economy grows at five times the pace of the rest of the world in the long-term the BCCI will move International cricket from Free TV to Paid Cable and Satellite and make a boat load of money too.

 

[Varun]

Because the WICB, PCB and SLC were playing a part in running it to the ground.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

As the Indian economy grows at five times the pace of the rest of the world in the long-term the BCCI will move International cricket from Free TV to Paid Cable and Satellite and make a boat load of money too.

Since it will be mostly Indian ex-pats paying to watch it then why not? Incidentally Zee TV bought the rights to Pak vs NZ series and where I would normally not subscribe to watch that channel I paid up for a couple of months so I could watch that series.

 

[Bilal7]

)

Who had that dream? What did other boards do to achieve this dream in the last 50 years??

Big3 ke banne pe hi dream yaad aaya bhai-jaan?

The game was expanding. Afghanistan and Ireland were getting closer and closer to the elusive test status. Once that happened, other countries would feel motivated to achieve the same. Then the big 3 happened and the boards that needed the most money were the ones that lost the most finances.

The ICC were doing something which was way better than what the corrupt BCCI plans to do. You'll open your eyes soon enough I imagine.

 

[Gilly]

The game was expanding. Afghanistan and Ireland were getting closer and closer to the elusive test status. Once that happened, other countries would feel motivated to achieve the same. Then the big 3 happened and the boards that needed the most money were the ones that lost the most finances.

The ICC were doing something which was way better than what the corrupt BCCI plans to do. You'll open your eyes soon enough I imagine.

If Afghanistan and Ireland needed money generated by the big three then what would be the purpose of them getting test status. A successful team needs to be able to generate its own funds if it is going to be sustainable.

 

[Bilal7]

If Afghanistan and Ireland needed money generated by the big three then what would be the purpose of them getting test status. A successful team needs to be able to generate its own funds if it is going to be sustainable.

Yes, I'm sure all of our countries were raking in the the dollars since our debut matches and needed no support from the ICC. How much does CA pay you for being part of their online PR team?

 

[Bilal7]

I guess Australia should just start double taxation on start-up companies since they are not making any money and instead leaching from the government and deserve to die.

 

[Gilly]

Yes, I'm sure all of our countries were raking in the the dollars since our debut matches and needed no support from the ICC. How much does CA pay you for being part of their online PR team?

There was no ICC when "our" countries started playing test matches, they had to build a strong enough domestic competition to sustain a test team, coincidently that's what Ireland and Afghanistan need to do.

 

[Gilly]

I guess Australia should just start double taxation on start-up companies since they are not making any money and instead leaching from the government and deserve to die.

If a company relies on government handouts and has no resources to be self sufficient then taxing successful companies at ridiculous rates to accommodate them is poor business and will lead to revolt.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

While I think the Big 3 is going to be a hindrance to developing the game globally and will make it less watchable as a whole, I do agree that it is up to other nations to produce a stronger domestic game which is self sufficient. You should never have to rely on outsiders to make your game viable.

 

[Gilly]

While I think the Big 3 is going to be a hindrance to developing the game globally and will make it less watchable as a whole,.

How so?.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

How so?.

I think we will find the Big 3 taking up more of the itinerary for matches between themselves if for no other reasons but financial. It was probably already happening to some extent, but now it is even more likely. To me that is a boring prospect.

 

[Gilly]

I think we will find the Big 3 taking up more of the itinerary for matches between themselves if for no other reasons but financial. It was probably already happening to some extent, but now it is even more likely. To me that is a boring prospect.

But if they make more money playing each other more often then that could only mean that's what the supporters want, if the supporters didn't want that then they would make less money. You cant keep stopping the big three from making money and at the same time demand that more money should be available for others.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

But if they make more money playing each other more often then that could only mean that's what the supporters want, if the supporters didn't want that then they would make less money. You cant keep stopping the big three from making money and at the same time demand that more money should be available for others.

I am looking at it from the viewpoint of those outside the Big 3. I don't have any issue for Big 3 fans. They can host each other on 6 month tours if that is what they want.

 

[Crazy_K]

1. Money
2. The incompetence of ICC
3. Because they could

 

[CricketAnalyst]

and ROW agreed to India getting away with it- shameful really not standing upto the bullies

No choice for the rest. We aren't bullies by the way, just demanding that we receive a larger, share of what is rightfully ours. If the rest did not back down, we would have a 6 month IPL, hire all the foreign players and we'd be financially just fine. We have the market, so we shouldn't have to care what the others think.

Also, international cricket as a whole, is not good for the game, because of many problems I have pointed out. A transition to franchises is needed, and elimination of FTP is the first step.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

No choice for the rest. We aren't bullies by the way, just demanding that we receive a larger, share of what is rightfully ours. If the rest did not back down, we would have a 6 month IPL, hire all the foreign players and we'd be financially just fine. We have the market, so we shouldn't have to care what the others think.

Also, international cricket as a whole, is not good for the game, because of many problems I have pointed out. A transition to franchises is needed, and elimination of FTP is the first step.

Where did you point out international cricket is not good for the game? I would like to read your reasoning, Is it on this thread?

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Only an independent entity will be able to expand the game all over the world.

This is actually not even technically possible in the current format.

It's not even possible to have 30 or 40 nations regularly play each other, the way 7 or 8 have done. The 'cricket calendar' is basically an ad-hoc shambles of teams playing each other by mutual agreement, as and when they like. This is a primitive and unviable method which was developed when there were only 3 or 4 teams at all and is inherently unsuited to having more sides. Even if it was done, how would players be incentivized to play sport for a living when only 13-15 players could be playing at the peak, from any given country. In England, not even counting foreign leagues, 500+ players have an opportunity for employment in the top tier playing against the best. No wonder all the multi-talented kids tend to pick AFL in Australia and athletics/basketball in the West Indies.

Franchises are the future, and are the only way the game can expand. Otherwise, how will an Afghan player get to play at the peak more than once every 4 years? Same goes for Irish? If leagues were the primary form, all these talented Irish guys would have no issues at all.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Where did you point out international cricket is not good for the game? I would like to read your reasoning, Is it on this thread?

Hi, I have mentioned it elsewhere.

Briefly the reasons are:

1) Scope for employment at the top-tier for many players. Which I have explained in my reply to Bilal below.

2) Freedom from bureaucratic whims (think Fawad Alam). In status quo, every player has one potential employee who can act however unreasonably they wish and short-circuit a career as they want. Additionally, if players are born in the wrong country (too weak) or too much competition, they have no chance. If Franchises were a key, anybody could have an opportunity to take players like Fawad Alam and Hughes and not waste them or ignore them because their techniques were unusual.

3) Organized rather than ad-hoc calendar gives real opportunity to all teams and presents an equality without which organized sports are meaningless. Literally EVERY SINGLE major sport from Tennis to Football, Basketball, NFL and EVEN GOLF have organized equal opportunity where everyone can progress through merit. This is inherently impossible with a bunch of national teams having friendlies which is cricket's current model.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Please note in my reply to Bilal, when I said 500+ players have a chance, I meant the EPL as a comparison. Very annoying that edits aren't possible.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Hi, I have mentioned it elsewhere.

Briefly the reasons are:

1) Scope for employment at the top-tier for many players. Which I have explained in my reply to Bilal below.

2) Freedom from bureaucratic whims (think Fawad Alam). In status quo, every player has one potential employee who can act however unreasonably they wish and short-circuit a career as they want. Additionally, if players are born in the wrong country (too weak) or too much competition, they have no chance. If Franchises were a key, anybody could have an opportunity to take players like Fawad Alam and Hughes and not waste them or ignore them because their techniques were unusual.

3) Organized rather than ad-hoc calendar gives real opportunity to all teams and presents an equality without which organized sports are meaningless. Literally EVERY SINGLE major sport from Tennis to Football, Basketball, NFL and EVEN GOLF have organized equal opportunity where everyone can progress through merit. This is inherently impossible with a bunch of national teams having friendlies which is cricket's current model.

There are some good ideas there but a lot of people only follow cricket either through local ties as in the domestic game, or internationals. Is a die hard Pakistan fan really going to care if Fawad Alam turns our for a franchise team in New Zealand? Watching your national team is something totally different to watching a mixed league. It might work from a player's viewpoint but I have doubts about supporters buying into it.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

There are some good ideas there but a lot of people only follow cricket either through local ties as in the domestic game, or internationals. Is a die hard Pakistan fan really going to care if Fawad Alam turns our for a franchise team in New Zealand? Watching your national team is something totally different to watching a mixed league. It might work from a player's viewpoint but I have doubts about supporters buying into it.

This is a gradual process which takes time. No denying that franchise loyalty takes time, but not as much as one may assume. In the BBL, the crowd was booing away teams and were viciously partisan and supportive of home teams. These loyalties are there. Also, the point is if franchises were king, then Fawad Alam would play for his Pakistani franchise, which Pakistanis would care about. Again, I'm not denying the process will take time, but it's partially underway.

 

[the Great Khan]

Pakistan's fault. Our inability to harness the power of our viewership, the cow-towing to the BCCI over the IPL/ICL when we had some power, the stupidity of our elected "politicians" and their anti Pakistan agendas, and other stupidities. Pakistan is the only country that can break the big 3 monopoly if it gets its act together. India is simply standing back and saying "look we can make more money together, but right now your a bit of a mess and frankly i'm finding it a bit funny, so get yourself out of your hole and we'll talk. In the meantime I'm gonna laugh some more and make some more money, while watching our former colonial masters think they have some power".

If Pakistan get sit self sorted it will be the second biggest cricketing power in the world. Do you really thing India will be able to ignore that? I doubt it. The money on offer will make everyone sit down and think! Can you imagine a PSL and IPL collaboration? it would be insane. Lahore with some superstars vs Chenna with its superstars, with the matches played in both Lahore and Chennai , etc etc etc! Imagine the TV revenue, bragging rights, India vs Pakistan but with a twist? chaa ching!

 

[JibranAnsari]

Pakistan's fault. Our inability to harness the power of our viewership, the cow-towing to the BCCI over the IPL/ICL when we had some power, the stupidity of our elected "politicians" and their anti Pakistan agendas, and other stupidities. Pakistan is the only country that can break the big 3 monopoly if it gets its act together. India is simply standing back and saying "look we can make more money together, but right now your a bit of a mess and frankly i'm finding it a bit funny, so get yourself out of your hole and we'll talk. In the meantime I'm gonna laugh some more and make some more money, while watching our former colonial masters think they have some power".

If Pakistan get sit self sorted it will be the second biggest cricketing power in the world. Do you really thing India will be able to ignore that? I doubt it. The money on offer will make everyone sit down and think! Can you imagine a PSL and IPL collaboration? it would be insane. Lahore with some superstars vs Chenna with its superstars, with the matches played in both Lahore and Chennai , etc etc etc! Imagine the TV revenue, bragging rights, India vs Pakistan but with a twist? chaa ching!

Forget an international match in pakistan for next 20 years.
No foreign team would like to attempt suicide by visiting pakistan.

 

[the Great Khan]

Forget an international match in pakistan for next 20 years.
No foreign team would like to attempt suicide by visiting pakistan.

keep up with the hopeless rhetoric, it will happen sooner than you think. But that was not what I was talking about.
Unfortunately the Indians govts stated public policy after Mumbai was to culturally weaken Pakistan and our politicians gave them a nice little outlet to do so.

 

[Mamoon]

keep up with the hopeless rhetoric, it will happen sooner than you think. But that was not what I was talking about.
Unfortunately the Indians govts stated public policy after Mumbai was to culturally weaken Pakistan and our politicians gave them a nice little outlet to do so.

Yes, blame India and the west for our problems.

and forget cricket in Pakistan for the next 20-25 years, only a fool will tour this country.

 

[the Great Khan]

Yes, blame India and the west for our problems.

and forget cricket in Pakistan for the next 20-25 years, only a fool will tour this country.

haven't you left yet? and how's the wrist stilling going?

 

[the Great Khan]

Yes, blame India and the west for our problems.

and forget cricket in Pakistan for the next 20-25 years, only a fool will tour this country.

I'm sorry but only a fool would interpret what I said as "blame India for all our problems". Go back to your depression and despair. Your like a virus that spread hopelessness everywhere, maybe you need to spend sometime speaking to God to get you out of this pathetic state!

 

[Mamoon]

Pakistan is the only country that can break the big 3 monopoly if it gets its act together. India is simply standing back and saying "look we can make more money together, but right now your a bit of a mess and frankly i'm finding it a bit funny, so get yourself out of your hole and we'll talk. In the meantime I'm gonna laugh some more and make some more money, while watching our former colonial masters think they have some power".

If Pakistan get sit self sorted it will be the second biggest cricketing power in the world. Do you really thing India will be able to ignore that? I doubt it. The money on offer will make everyone sit down and think! Can you imagine a PSL and IPL collaboration? it would be insane. Lahore with some superstars vs Chenna with its superstars, with the matches played in both Lahore and Chennai , etc etc etc! Imagine the TV revenue, bragging rights, India vs Pakistan but with a twist? chaa ching!

Classic case of Schizophrenia.

Thorazine injections, 100 mg once every 6 hours.

Increase dosage to 500 mg after two weeks.

 

[Syed1]

Classic case of Schizophrenia.

Thorazine injections, 100 mg once every 6 hours.

Increase dosage to 500 mg after two weeks.

I don't see anything wrong with what he said.

Maybe you need to some the suggested medicine. Pakistan has the second largest population amongst all cricket playing countries and hence the viewership is only second to India. Maybe when you will grow up a bit you understand logic.

 

[Syed1]

^ We seriously need an edit option on PP

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Pakistan's fault. Our inability to harness the power of our viewership, the cow-towing to the BCCI over the IPL/ICL when we had some power, the stupidity of our elected "politicians" and their anti Pakistan agendas, and other stupidities. Pakistan is the only country that can break the big 3 monopoly if it gets its act together. India is simply standing back and saying "look we can make more money together, but right now your a bit of a mess and frankly i'm finding it a bit funny, so get yourself out of your hole and we'll talk. In the meantime I'm gonna laugh some more and make some more money, while watching our former colonial masters think they have some power".

If Pakistan get sit self sorted it will be the second biggest cricketing power in the world. Do you really thing India will be able to ignore that? I doubt it. The money on offer will make everyone sit down and think! Can you imagine a PSL and IPL collaboration? it would be insane. Lahore with some superstars vs Chenna with its superstars, with the matches played in both Lahore and Chennai , etc etc etc! Imagine the TV revenue, bragging rights, India vs Pakistan but with a twist? chaa ching!

As I mentioned before, Indian companies are already prepared to invest in Pakistan cricket if there's money in it for them. Zee Cinema bought the rights to the Pak v NZ cricket series and they did that because they thought there is enough of a market to get Pak subscribers. Pak based TV companies did it previously but cricket alone is not enough to drive a channels success so maybe they got priced out.

 

[Mamoon]

^

You can start with 50 mg oral tablets, your case is less severe.

 

[Varun]

If Pakistan get sit self sorted it will be the second biggest cricketing power in the world. Do you really thing India will be able to ignore that? I doubt it. The money on offer will make everyone sit down and think! Can you imagine a PSL and IPL collaboration? it would be insane. Lahore with some superstars vs Chenna with its superstars, with the matches played in both Lahore and Chennai , etc etc etc! Imagine the TV revenue, bragging rights, India vs Pakistan but with a twist? chaa ching!

And all it will take is one bullet fired across one border to another for everything to come to a standstill.

 

[the Great Khan]

Classic case of Schizophrenia.

Thorazine injections, 100 mg once every 6 hours.

Increase dosage to 500 mg after two weeks.

I suggest you try that on yourself. And then perhaps a dose of Hope sprinkled in with a good woman to get you out of your drunken stupor!

 

[the Great Khan]

And all it will take is one bullet fired across one border to another for everything to come to a standstill.

well this si where both country's need to adopt a more mature attitude. De-escalate and stop playing politics with the LOC.

 

[amit]

As a Indian, I feel sad that we have the Big 3 and it was BCCI and the corrupt Srinivisan who led this big 3 thing. Other cricket boards gave into the bullying as well and the Big 3 is trying their best to kill cricket in Ireland, Afghanistan, Netherlands and other upcoming countries as well by reducing the world cup to just 10 teams at a time when the world cup should be ideally expanded to 20

I fully agree with everything what [MENTION=129948]Bilal7[/MENTION] said here

And FIFA is not corrupt at all. Just because they want to have a world cup in Qatar and promote the game in the gulf countries, doesn't make them corrupt. They are doing a truly professional job of globalising the sport and as a cricket fan, I wish someone like FIFA or world rugby union ran cricket instead of the incompetent and corrupt ICC

 

[bujhee kom]

The gulf between the Big 3 and the rest is so big as to be the death-knell of Cricket

Resources tell and the other 7 sides are left so far behind as to be uncompetitive.

 

[Ronaldo7]

Who's the big three??
It's only eng and Ind. Aus nearly lost to both wi and pak (both teams lost coz of their own mistakes).

 

[bujhee kom]

Who's the big three??
It's only eng and Ind. Aus nearly lost to both wi and pak (both teams lost coz of their own mistakes).

Almost lost is not a thing. They won both.

 

[Sidilicious]

Who's the big three??
It's only eng and Ind. Aus nearly lost to both wi and pak (both teams lost coz of their own mistakes).

but they didn't. They won eventually.

The hallmarks of a great team is that they find ways to win even when they are playing poorly.
Fergie's United did that so many times. They would play poor footie for 80 mins, but somehow not let the opposition get to far ahead, and simply come back in the last 10 mins + injury time to somehow get the 3 points.

Australia are that kind of team. They know how to win even when they are not playing like champions.

 

[Ronaldo7]

but they didn't. They won eventually.

The hallmarks of a great team is that they find ways to win even when they are playing poorly.
Fergie's United did that so many times. They would play poor footie for 80 mins, but somehow not let the opposition get to far ahead, and simply come back in the last 10 mins + injury time to somehow get the 3 points.

Australia are that kind of team. They know how to win even when they are not playing like champions.

Winning by bowling full tosses and getting wickets by bowling down the leg side is a hallmark of a great team???
They didn't WIN the game. They were given it on a plate.
India showed you that.

 

[Ronaldo7]

Almost lost is not a thing. They won both.

Won against the sixth and 8th ranked team and got thrashed by the 2nd ranked team. They don't deserve to be in the top 3. Nz deserves to be up there with ind and eng.

 

[Sidilicious]

Winning by bowling full tosses and getting wickets by bowling down the leg side is a hallmark of a great team???
They didn't WIN the game. They were given it on a plate.
India showed you that.

Win is a win. Keeping your nerve and not messing up in pressure situations is also a skill.

As I said, despite playing poorly in 40% of the game they won against Pakistan.

I can guarantee you that AUs will end being in the Semis.

 

[Ronaldo7]

IF they end up in the semis, how are they not supposed to be in the top 3. Semis (at least) in 2019 and a win in 2015 is something than one of the top team does.

If NZ only get to the semis, then they would have not outperformed the Aus side in both 2015 and 2019.

2015's team was an ATG standard team. This team is nowhere near. Nz have been performing a lot more consistently than Aus. They deserve to be in the top 3. Aus can't live off the 2015 win in 2019. If Aus make it to the semis, they'll still not be in the top 3.
It will be Eng, Ind, Nz. However if they make it to the final then I have no complaints if you call them one of the top 3 teams.