Cricket is no longer confined to the pitch alone, but has taken on the battleground of the boardroom. The ICC will meet in Dubai between November 4 – 7, and this could potentially prove to be an extremely important meeting for the International Cricket Council (ICC), with the prospect of mobile gaming rights and the under-19 World Cup format possibly being at the heart of the discussions. For decades, there has been much debate regarding the imaging rights of retired players, and finally, the matter of those rights will be scrutinized.
Mobile Gaming Rights: Boards vs Players
The International Cricket Council’s decision to build a mobile video game app has once again brought into question which group or person has ownership of an athlete’s image. The governing bodies argue that they have authority, but the World Cricketers Association has argued against this authority, especially about retired players whose rights are still unclear legally. What is more than simply a contract dispute is what will become of the digital monetization of the sport. Mobile video games for sports are expected to generate more than $5 billion in revenue globally, so if the ICC has its way, then how players and their images can be involved in the commercial side of the sport may be forever changed.
Under-19 WC: Tradition Clashes with Innovation
The next years under 19 World Cup will be in the 50-over format as per the norm. However, the associates are not willing to accept this; the associate countries believe that the T20 format gives greater exposure than 50 overs to their players and also helps prepare them for the rapid-paced senior circuits, while it also caters to the increasingly short attention span of the global audience. The history has proven that the introduction of innovative formats in youth cricket has greatly shaped the senior cricket format: (Pakistan’s 2006 U-19 T20 champions, for example, have been the inspiration for an entire new generation of aggressive T20 batsmen). This is one of those moments where the decisions made by the ICC, in this case, may determine the long-term development path for generations of young cricketers to come.
Governance and Strategy: A New CEO at the Helm
The ICC’s new Chief Executive Officer, Sanjog Gupta, will be unveiling the global road map for cricket as a sport. The path that the ICC wants to take to get cricket into the Multi-Sport Events, to create pathways for Associate umpires and referees, is all steps in the direction of making Cricket more inclusive and modern. However, the act of balancing the interests of the Full Members (the legacy) with those of the Associate Members will require great care by the ICC; this may ultimately decide if the ICC can expand its global influence or simply preserve the status quo.
Beyond Cricket: Trophy Disputes and Diplomacy
Even the shiny surface of a silver trophy has enough power to be front-page news. The ongoing Asia Cup saga between BCCI & PCB is an example of how political & administrative battles are able to take the game away from the actual game. While the ultimate resolution of this battle will come at the hands of the ICC Board, it remains to be seen whether they will make good on their words by having the power of individual board members hold sway over the decision-making process. Ultimately, cricket is about much more than runs or wickets; it’s about power, perception & time.
Key Takeaway:
Cricket’s next generation will be shaped as much by boardroom decisions in Dubai as by performances on the field.
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