Atherton and anti-corruption watchdog slam ´Big Three´ plan

LONDON: Former England captain Michael Atherton and a leading global anti-corruption watchdog have joined the chorus of criticism regarding plans to effectively cede control of world cricket to India, Australia and England.

Leaked draft proposals to be discussed at a two-day International Cricket Council (ICC) board meeting in Dubai on Tuesday and Wednesday call for more decision-making powers for a three-strong group of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board, who between them represent the game´s wealthiest nations.

There is also a plan to create two divisions for Test cricket but with England, Australia and India all guaranteed to avoid relegation from the top tier because of their commercial importance.

Atherton, now the cricket correspondent of The Times, was scathing in his condemnation of the proposals, writing they represented "the end of the notion that a fair and principled and just body can govern cricket in the interests of all."

´Incompetence is a given´

Atherton agreed the ICC had to be reformed but said there was little merit in the ´Big Three´ plan.

"No one doubts that the status quo, as far as the ICC is concerned, is unacceptable: two full-member countries are thought to be corrupt; four are essentially broke; most rely on India´s largesse to keep going...Politics, race and personalities interfere with decision-making at every turn. Incompetence is a given."

Meanwhile Transparency International issued a statement on Monday saying the "intention to entrench a privileged position for ´The Big Three´ appears to be an abuse of entrusted power for private gain, giving them disproportionate, unaccountable and unchallengeable authority".

If adopted, the plan would also mean the end of the ICC´s existing Future Tours Programme, a system which compels the leading 10 Test nations to play each other during a set period. But the plan´s supporters argue boards would be freed from "unviable" tours, whatever their merit in cricketing terms, and that this would lead ´the seven´ beyond the ´Big Three´ to become more financially self-sufficient.

The proposals need seven votes from the ICC´s 10 leading nations to pass.

The BCCI have also appeared to float ´the nuclear option´ of withdrawing from all ICC events if the proposals are not accepted. (AFP)