September 29 Sunday 2002
ICC to vote on increased players' representation

COLOMBO: The International Cricket Council (ICC) will vote this week on whether to allow greater player representation within the organisation, President Malcolm Gray said on Saturday. If agreed by the ICC's Executive Board, it would give the Federation of Cricketers' Associations (FICA), a body that claim to represent the majority 
of the world's professional players, more influence in the running of the game. That could help prevent a repeat of the situation that arose before the current ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, when Indian players initially refused to take part, saying they had not been consulted over the tournament's sponsorship agreements.

Gray said recognition of the FICA would help the consultation process between the ICC and the players. "As a central body it would be easier for us to deal with a body that represent all the players compared with individuals."
 
But he added it was not certain the vote would go in FICA's favour as a previous attempt to get agreement in October 2001 had failed, with several countries opposed to the idea of player associations.

"Since then we have had lots of discussions with the FICA and player representative groups and there has been some recognition of the FICA," said Gray. "But there is a problem in the system as some countries are opposed to the FICA as they don't believe players should be represented in this way so whether this measure will be approved I can't say."

Greater player input into the running of the game was recommended by the head of the Anti-corruption Unit, Lord Condon, but at the moment the only voice they have is an annual Test captains' meeting.

The ICC's executive board is made up of the president and the chief executive officer, and representatives of the 10 Test-playing countries and three associate members.

Gray said other items to be discussed and voted on included a proposal to assist members requiring special financial assistance. It would allow countries to borrow money from future revenues due to them, specifically helping the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) through their current financial problems caused by a lack of international cricket in that country. No touring side has visited since May 2002 when New Zealand cut short their trip after a bomb exploded outside the team's hotel.

Pakistan are set to play a series against Australia at neutral venues in Sri Lanka and Sharjah next month, resulting in a loss of sponsorship revenue to the PCB. The executive board meeting will take place in Colombo tomorrow.