Pakistan, Sri Lanka all alone

Tony Becca, Contributor

Cricket's big three, India, England, and Australia, won the day in Singapore yesterday when South Africa handed them the right to run cricket until, according to an agreement, the year 2016 when fully democratic elections are held, or so it has been promised.

After a battle for control of the ICC, a struggle in which the big three jostled for control of the administration of cricket, including how the ICC's money should be distributed, India, England, and Australia finally got their way in the corridors of power with South Africa backing down at the last minute and leaving Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the cold.

The big three had proposed a takeover of cricket, which, according to them, was for cricket's own good, for the survival of the game, and more so Test cricket.

The bid, however, needed eight of the 10 full members to vote in favour of it.

Right from the word go, New Zealand and Zimbabwe supported the bid because of the promise of more money, the West Indies later fell in line because of the promise of more money to them and fewer or no tours against weaker teams, and four of the all important 10 full members, Pakistan, Sri, Lanka, South Africa, and Bangladesh, said no, and for good reasons.Then followed more deals after which Bangladesh also fell in line because of promises coming out of deals which suited them. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and South Africa were left alone to fight the good fight.

And they all stood firm against "the extent of the powers and financial advantages of the big three", with Pakistan totally against the entire proposals and seeking more time to really go through them, South Africa saying that the proposals were "fundamentally flawed" and that they "were not in the best of international cricket and therefore to ICC members", and Sri Lanka saying it was against the proposals because of several things, including their claims of financial threats by the big three.

Sri Lanka, so it is reported, had applied for a $8-million loan before the proposals were tabled, and that was among the issues held over their head by the boards of the big three.

On top of that, one member of the Sri Lanka board said recently: "We can be servile to India. We can beg and negotiate a few financially lucrative tours and other arrangements which would set us financially well off for a few years. But there is something more than that to consider. These changes would give complete control to India and its like. Once they get this passed, they are almighty and we cannot be certain what would happen next. They might even change the rules of the game to suit them. There is a great danger lurking behind these proposals."

Transitional exercise

Finally, however, after some weakening of the proposals, after a promise from the big three that this was only a transitional exercise, that their control would only be temporary, until they fix the ills of cricket, until the year 2016, and a promise to appease the associate members by setting up a system by which one of them may qualify for Test cricket, South Africa jumped ship, left Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a hopeless position, and handed the reins of cricket to India, England and Australia.

Probably they too got something out of the pot. Probably South Africa became the token fourth or fifth country afforded a seat beside the big three at the head table, and probably India and South Africa did mend fences in the quarrel over South African Haroon Lorgat and his fall from the ICC.

In explaining their last-minute switch, South Africa's president, Chris Nenzagi, said: "All, countries, including the big three, have had to rethink and make concessions and the final terms that were approved today include significant changes from the original proposals presented in January."

And then he said: "What is equally important is that this is only a transitional arrangement and from 2016 there will be fully democratic elections for all governing positions in the ICC, including the chairpersons of the board and the other committees."

All is well that ends well, or almost well, and maybe South Africa have saved cricket from the ugly hands of imperialism, even though it left Pakistan and Sri Lanka out in the cold.

At least the big three did not get all that they wanted, at least there is a small move to look after the associate members, and at least there are promises that there will be a vote for ICC positions by 2016.

In Jamaica, however, there is a saying, time longer than rope; there is another, time will tell; and still there is another, you never see smoke without fire.

First it was England and Australia, then it was the full members, and now, until 2016, they say, it is India, with England and Australia in support.

One thing is sure: India is in control, India, right or wrong, never did agree with the DRS system, India never did play with that system, and I bet you that India will brush it aside shortly.