International Cricket Council president Ehsaan Mani, a chartered accountant by training, served on several ICC committees before ascending to the premier post in cricket's world body.
Mani headed the ICC's finance and marketing committee and played a major role in the sale of media rights for ICC events, a deal that guaranteed the council an income of $550 million until the 2007 World Cup.
It is therefore ironic that he took over the ICC's reins at a time when it faces a commercial mess over the contracts issue and challenges posed by player associations.
In an interview with Faisal Shariff, Mani spells out his vision for world cricket. Excerpts:
Excerpts:
You are facing new challenges unlike your predecessors?
There have always been challenges. When [Jagmohan] Dalmiya took over as president, the biggest challenge was that there was no money. He did a tremendous job and got money into the sport.
Malcolm Gray took over when the match-fixing incident happened. Until then, the ICC was a small, weak body unable to lead. He led that challenge very well. Today we are a strong organisation.
My challenges are different. We are faced with challenges from our commercial partners. There is too much cricket. Currently 89 countries are playing the game. We must improve the quality of cricket; take cricket to new countries. We want to take it to 100 countries by the end of 2005.
We have to arrange ICC cricket tournaments in England next year and in India in 2006.
The ICC has finally agreed to recognise FICA (Federation of International Cricketers' Association). Is it a victory for player associations, with the governing body giving in to their demands?
ICC is always clear. The focus is to work closely with players' voices. We will recognise not only FICA but also any body which the Board recognises. It just happens that six countries recognise FICA. It is good that we have to deal with only one body. But countries like India and Pakistan, which don't recognise FICA, will have a problem.
We are in contact with the players. We will work with them and take their views on board.
The ICC's ten-year program has come under severe criticism from many quarters. The West Indies in particular is critical about the business model.
There have been concerns from the West Indies Board. They have acknowledged that they are guaranteed tours not guaranteed before. The West Indies have had very few tours by India earlier but in the 10-year cycle India will go there twice and the West Indies will come here [to India] thrice.
Besides this, England, South Africa and Australia will tour them [the West Indies] regularly as well as host them. These series make a lot of money.
Over the ten-year period they are assured of good tours. The West Indies can now play in seasons when they don't play. On the whole, the West Indies recognise the benefits they get out of the ten-year program.
Why is the ICC not releasing India's money? What happens to the interest generated on the amount withheld?
There are contractual problems. Our commercial partners [the GCC] agreed on a huge amount of money -- $550 for cricket sponsorship. It is a figure we couldn't have imagined. We are working very closely with them to resolve the issue. They have made no claims against any country. Every country agreed to leave some money behind. Not only the full-member countries but also the associate member countries have agreed to a 15 per cent reduction in payment. England and New Zealand lost money, because of skipping their World Cup matches, besides the 15 per cent.
In India's case, more money was withheld because of the player issues. We want to resolve issues and move ahead. We don't want to hold any country's money back. India's money is kept in a separate account and will be duly returned to the country with the interest accumulated on it.
We are keeping the money as trust at the country's own request. The ICC Board comprises 13 directors and the majority has voted for the money to be held back. We are merely custodians of the money at their request.
There is too much money in sport, your predecessor, Malcolm Gray, complained. Your thoughts...
I haven't heard the comment, but Malcolm was probably saying that money has become a predominant factor in the sport. There is not enough money in the sport. Cricket needs more money. We need huge amounts of money for the development of the sport and to take it forward.
Look at India, there is such tremendous following for the sport but there are no facilities. Ditto for Pakistan and Bangladesh. You need huge amounts of money for infrastructure. It takes millions to build a stadium. Cricket needs investment. There can never be too much money. I could do with double the money for developmental plans.
Is it time to rephrase what constitutes an illegal delivery in the rule book?
Yes, we are looking at it. Our technical people are looking at the body movements. It is a topical issue and the ICC is analysing it. It is important we question ourselves: 'Do we need to redefine the illegal delivery action?' .
Pakistan has been suffering for a long time now. How do you plan to compensate the Pakistan Cricket Board for the losses?
Pakistan was facing threats after the 9/11 event [the terrorist attacks on the United States] and the Afghan war. There is no better way to help a country than give it cricket. After Bangladesh, South Africa is going to Pakistan, New Zealand and India will hopefully follow.
Why is the ICC Champions Trophy being held in Sri Lanka, England and India instead of in associate countries?
Associate members were finding it very difficult to stage the games. It was difficult to put the project together. They didn't have the resources. Our global partners expected more returns, which weren't coming. It was no point putting a burden on them. From a management point of view it was tough.
When you visited India you said you wanted to ensure that India-Pakistan cricket ties are renewed...
It is a bilateral issue. For the love of cricket every team should play every other team. [Pakistan] President Musharraf has assured me, personally, that he wants India to play cricket with Pakistan. He does not want to mix cricket and politics. The BCCI is eager for resumption and [BCCI secretary] S K Nair told me that constructive progress is being made in that regard with the Government of India. We hope to have full contact with India. Once they start playing the atmosphere will change.
