Death of cricket: Protest hits out at ICC's ‘integrity’
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LONDON: Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside The Oval ahead of the start of the fifth Ashes Test between England and Australia on Thursday in protest against the way in which world cricket is now run.
The protest was initiated by Sam Collins and Jarrod Kimber, the co-directors of 'Death of a Gentleman'.
Their documentary attacks what they see as the maladministration of the International Cricket Council (ICC) since India, England and Australia -- the sport's three wealthiest nations -- effectively took over the global governing body last year.
Demonstrators including Damian Collins, a lawmaker with Britain's governing Conservative Party, held a three minutes' silence -- a minute each for India, England and Australia -- outside the Hobbs Gates at The Oval.
'Death of a Gentleman' alleges that international cricket lacks transparency, with former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president turned ICC chairman N. Srinivasan, England and Wales Cricket Board president (and former chairman Giles Clarke) and Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards running the world game primarily in the interests of their own countries, with other nations having to fight for scraps off the tale.
“Thanks to the three big nations that run world cricket -- England, Australia and India -- who also control 52 per cent of the game's revenues, Test cricket is being sacrificed in favour of the short forms of the game,” said Sam Collins.
“The other 102 countries who play the game have access to only 48 per cent of the revenues.”
“And, at a time when every other sport wants to expand, the ICC is actually shrinking the Cricket World Cup and doesn't want to participate in the Olympics.
“What's more, while FIFA shows how all sport needs to be wary of administrative corruption, cricket is being run without transparency, accountability or independence by individuals who have shown us time and time again why we cannot trust them to represent the sport's best interests.”
Damian Collins, no relation of Sam, and a member of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport select committee which investigated the running of football governing body FIFA under Sepp Blatter, said cricket's present set-up was damaging the interests of the sport as a whole.
“This is very detrimental to the game,” he told reporters.
“I will ask the sports select committee to summon Giles Clarke to explain his role.”
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Comments (37) Closed
Aug 20, 2015 07:47pm
Good show. Hope this is taken seriously by World sports body.
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Aug 20, 2015 07:48pm
Way to go.
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Aug 20, 2015 07:50pm
TRUE
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Aug 20, 2015 08:04pm
We salute and support you to stand up against this hagmony of trio
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Aug 20, 2015 08:14pm
A bit too late, ICC is gone, waiting for the new league to pop up.
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Aug 20, 2015 08:22pm
Now cricket is only a "bat and ball game".Prime objective : make money by anyway. In the last world cup Mr. Srinivasin gave the trophy...suicidal day for cricket.
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Aug 20, 2015 08:24pm
All Pakistani friends, I request you to understand that that's the way global sports is going. Governments do not fund sports teams. They fund infrastructure. When wealthy people sponsor sports, they do not do it out of the goodness of their hearts. They do it for profit. And control. England, Australia and India generate profit and that is what keeps the game alive in this age of TV, sponsorships and advertising. Football is run by the wealthiest club owners, not Argentina which has great footballers. Hockey is run by Germany and Spain and Korea. That's just how it is. Rather than romanticising sport, let's look at it as a business because that's how players are paid and that's how the game runs.
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Aug 20, 2015 09:22pm
Nothing but simply drum beating,will this help at all.Well i don't think so.
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Aug 20, 2015 09:30pm
@Gaurav Arya
That's what the grievance is all about. Cricket has died but tacky cricket has taken over with a new face of sleaze, sex, bribes, betting, Bollywood and silly money for no talent.
About time, countries shun the current set up and go back to real cricket with equality, honesty and free of aparthied.
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Aug 20, 2015 10:17pm
@Gaurav Arya are you asking us to accept corruption and biasness as way of life? I expected better sense from you.
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Aug 20, 2015 10:53pm
There is corruption in sports. Really !! That has never happened before. ;)
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Aug 20, 2015 11:46pm
Kudos to Sam Collins and Jarrod Kimber who are exposing the death of
a once upon a time, "gentleman's sport" of cricket. So when will Pakistani and other cricketers join forces in taking down the ICC?
After all, Pakistan has suffered the most at the heinous targeting of its top cricketers and should finally cleanse the ICC of its corrupt to the core crooks like N. Srinivasan. Terrorism comes in all forms, and the ICC has become a terrorist mafia cricket organization.
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Aug 20, 2015 11:55pm
If Pakistan would have been one of the 3 controlling country than my Pakistani friends would have reacted same way????
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Aug 21, 2015 12:05am
BCCI and ICC are hands in gloves. The gentlemen game is dead and gone...
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Aug 21, 2015 01:37am
When it comes to cricket, from singling out for harsh treatment (such as unjustified tour cancellations even in 2015, BCCI's refusal to play, etc.) to marginalization of Pakistan when it comes to World cricket (IPL, ICC power/revenue share), Pakistan is being treated as a pariah and a lot of it comes down to Indian Government stance towards Pakistan.
It certainly doesn't help Pakistan's case that India is the number 1 revenue generator and is therefore holding monopoly over cricketing affairs. All cricketing events are scheduled and groups drawn to maximize advantage for Indian viewers. Sure, we have our own administrative issues but countries much weaker then ours (in terms of ICC power/administration) seem to have a smoother sailing than Pakistan.
Time for Pakistan to wake up, smell the coffee and to call it a day with ICC (Indian Cricket Council). Focus on football/boxing instead.
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Aug 21, 2015 04:22am
I salute Sam Collins and Jarrod Kimber!!
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Aug 21, 2015 04:25am
Why don't the other countries bring in equal share of revenue and demand an equal control?
Let Pakistan take the lead!
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Aug 21, 2015 04:29am
@NY -- No way! Where is the cricket establishment, and then just show me the money!!
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Aug 21, 2015 04:32am
Very good initiative.
Let us see some support for this effort from our own Board and sports journalists.
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Aug 21, 2015 04:50am
high time the world is exposed to the nepotism of BCCI and its cronies, well done Sam and Jarrod!
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Aug 21, 2015 06:08am
"House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport select committee which investigated the running of football governing body FIFA under Sepp Blatter..."
why can't they do the same with Cricket and ICC?
cricket will eventually die off..only T20 beach cricket will be left....who wants to keep seeing Eng vs Aus vs Ind ??
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Aug 21, 2015 07:38am
India contributes nearly 76% of cricket revenue.
Would Pakistan let an Indian run a steel mill totally funded by Pakistan in Pakistan,and also have income so generate be transferred to India.
Come on .we all are living in this world which has become materialistic where money matters. Don't be surprised if tomorrow we have Indian Premier League for Gulli Danda and still make money.
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Aug 21, 2015 07:49am
@Jad let me say.if proper money is not paid to cricters who will play cricket as his career.to generate money and give proper coaching and facility you need sponsership.that cant be invited without veiwerahip.so just chill.and just hop their is no corruptiin and for that laws have been formed.
Look at your hockey team without money.
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Aug 21, 2015 09:02am
@N.S yes and control should be given to Pakistan which not able to organise a single test on home soil since last seven years
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Aug 21, 2015 09:38am
@Gaurav Arya I think you just need to rephrase your whole post to something like "dear Pakistani and many other nations, sports are for money and so it is fully justifiable and just for wealthy nations to do whatever kind of corruption they want. It does not matter how other nations and sport itself get affected by these actions. Let cricket shrink to a game played only in 3 countries because that's what's called 'running sports business'"
Indians! Always justifying their every move. You'd even have a just cause up your sleeve for raping girls on buses while hundreds are watching won't you?
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Aug 21, 2015 09:56am
@Jad - What I am trying to say is that minus corruption, money in sports is not such a bad thing. I don't condone corruption. No middle class person does. But the fact is that money is needed for sport. No sport can survive without money. The way BCCI uses money is that they fund infrastructure, all cricketers who have represented India or even their states get lifelong pension and BCCI funds other sports also. Per say, there is nothing wrong with the IPL or the Big 3, if they don't get into corruption. As far as India being part of the Big 3 is concerned and controlling cricket goes, I am an Indian and all for it. We control it because we contribute the maximum to it. The BRICS bank is controlled by China and is based out of Shanghai. Guess why???
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Aug 21, 2015 10:06am
Pakistan Can't digest India's Domination in any field.
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Aug 21, 2015 10:49am
@Dipak Singh we all know where this is coming from but let some time pass it will be clear to every one who was right in voting against the "big three" debacle.
Hint: Only Pakistan voted against it.
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Aug 21, 2015 11:00am
@NY No man, we would not have reacted the same way. Its only when people are at the receiving end that they make the most noise. True
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Aug 21, 2015 11:08am
@Dipak Singh Sam Collins and Jarrod Kimber aren't Pakisanis my dear friend. Please open your eyes and see the damage being done to the gentlemen's game.
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Aug 21, 2015 11:10am
@Dipak Singh what domination my dear. India is ranked 7th in ICC test rankings, Pakistan is third. In which other international Sport one country is allowed to make its own rules like India does with DRS
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Aug 21, 2015 11:28am
No point in complaining.... Money talks !!
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Aug 21, 2015 12:10pm
Rest of the cricketing nations should form a new governing body and leave ICC behind.
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Aug 21, 2015 12:40pm
Well said, it's about time all cricket playing nations to stand up to the three big bullies of cricket and ask for transparency and opening up of cricket to more countries. Srinivasan has been tainted with all sorts of corruption charges and should not be running ICC.
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Aug 21, 2015 01:00pm
@Gaurav Arya Dear Guarav, agreed with your comments, but the question here i s transparency and state of cricket itself. The intention of the administration. It is very clear from the decisions that ICC is no more interested in well being of cricket instead taking care of commercial and political instests.
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Aug 21, 2015 11:08pm
Too little, too late.
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Aug 22, 2015 07:15am
It is clearly a monopoly formed by 3 nations. How do they intend to expand cricket in the rest of the world , no one knows. There seem to be no check and balance system which will satisfy rest of the member nations in ICC.
There should be body comprised of other member nations which will act as auditors / opposition which will make sure that these 3 nations are on right track.
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