Pakistan's role crucial in terminating 'Big Three' from ICC structure: PCB

Karachi: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has said that his country played a big role in the termination of the 'Big Three', featuring the cricket boards of India, England and Australia, from the structure of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The 83-year-old pointed out that Pakistan was the only country to raise the voice against the set-up from the beginning, and made other member countries realize that 'Big Three' would not serve world cricket with equality.

"Big Three was an undemocratic set-up and Pakistan was the only country which raised its voice against this set-up from the very beginning and made the cricket-playing countries realise that Big Three was not going to truly serve world cricket [with equality], because it was favouring certain member countries of the ICC which was an injustice," the Dawn quoted Shaharyar as saying.

While speaking at the National Cricket Academy after returning from Dubai where he attended the five-day ICC meet along with PCB executive committee chairman Najam Sethi, Shaharyar said that the abolition of Big Three by the world cricket governing body would provide Pakistan with the benefit of USD 39 million.

"We [the PCB] were at loss due to the creation of Big Three in the ICC and with its abolition, Pakistan will get the [monetary] benefit of $39 million. We, due to Big Three set-up, suffered in many ways. For example, we were scheduled to play six [bilateral] series with India; but they backed out of the commitment due to which we suffered huge financial losses," he added.

Shaharyar further insisted that the ICC would now be more professional and democratic as its member countries would get equal financial benefits and representation in the Council due to the elimination of Big Three.

"With the abolition of Big Three, now the ICC will be more professional and democratic as its member countries will get equal financial benefits and representation in the Council," he said.

Earlier in 2013, the ICC gave additional power to Australia, England and India which invited a flurry of criticisms from the independent cricket stakeholders.

However, the ICC abolished Big Three system and approved a new financial model after its meet in Dubai on Thursday, under which the BCCI will receive 293 million dollars from 2016 to 2023. Previously, the board was drawing an amount of 570 million dollars due to its ' Big Three' formula.

This might not have gone down well with the Indian board as the new model eats into its share.

ICC independent chairman Shashank Manohar had initially offered a compromise formula of an additional 100 million dollars, which would push the BCCI's share to almost 400 million dollars.

However, BCCI rejected this with a counter-offer under which it would still get its 570 million dollars but no other full member's share would be reduced.

With the new revenue model getting the nod, BCCI will now have to do with what they have in the eight-year cycle. The England Cricket Board received 143 million dollars while Zimbabwe Cricket received 94 million dollars.

The remaining seven Full Members will receive 132 million dollars each. The Associate Members will receive a funding of 280 million dollars. This model was passed by a vote of 13 to 1.

It should be noted that the ICC generates a higher percentage of revenue from India than any other cricket-playing nation.