ICC raises prize bucket for next year's World Cup

The breakdown of prize money for the event was approved. A total of USD $10 million, an increase of approximately 20 per cent over the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, will be available.

The ICC Board, under the chairmanship of Narayanaswami Srinivasan, met at the ICC Headquarters in Dubai on 9 and 10 November.

As per decisions taken by the ICC Board and Committee, the winner will get a fat package of USD$3,750,000. Runners up will get USD$1,750,000.

That is not all. The most striking decision taken in the meeting was that, should a team at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 win the tournament without losing a match, it will receive total prize money of USD $4,020,000, while a team that loses one match on the way to winning the tournament will receive USD $3,975,000.

Losing semi-finalists (two) will get USD$600,000, whereas losing quarter-finalists (four) will get USD$300,000.

2015 Cricket World Cup will be jointly organized by Australia and New Zealand.

ICC Board received an update on the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and expressed satisfaction with the preparations for the ICC’s pinnacle 50-over tournament.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Playing Conditions were also confirmed. Some of the key elements of the playing conditions, which are based on the Standard ODI Match Playing Conditions, are:

·       The Decision Review System will be used in all 49 matches of the tournament

·       There will be reserve days in the knock-out phase only

·       There will be no super over in tied matches in the knock-out phase. In case of a tied quarter-final and semi-final, the side finishing in the higher position in the group stage will progress. If the final is tied or if the match is a no-result, then the teams will be declared joint winners.

Among the decisions made and reports received were:

Integrity issues

The ICC Board approved the revised ICC Anti-Doping Code, ICC Anti-Corruption Code and Code of Ethics. While the Anti-Doping Code, which is in line with the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code, will come into effect from 1 January 2015, the revised Anti-Corruption Code and the Code of Ethics come into effect immediately.

Some of the key changes to the Anti-Corruption Code include:

·       The introduction of provisions to address the issue of who has jurisdiction in cases that involve a number of different jurisdictions so as to avoid potential jurisdictional loopholes

·       Enabling provisional suspensions to be imposed not only when a Participant is charged with an offence under the Code, but also where the ICC considers that there are other exceptional circumstances relevant to a Participant (for example where he/she has been charged by a police authority in respect of facts or circumstances that may also constitute an offence under the Code) which the ICC considers mean that the integrity of the sport would otherwise be undermined

·       The introduction of the ability for a Participant who is charged with an offence under the Code, but who has not been provisionally suspended, to agree to voluntarily suspend him/herself. Any such voluntary suspension, if it meets the conditions set out in the Code, will be credited against any subsequent period of suspension imposed by an Anti-Corruption Tribunal if the Participant is found guilty

·       The introduction of the ability for a Participant who is charged with an offence to admit the offence charged at an early stage and agree an appropriate sanction with the ICC in order to avoid the need for a hearing before the Anti-Corruption Tribunal

·       An increase in the ability of Anti-Corruption Tribunals to impose fines in addition to periods of suspensions where Participants are found to have breached the Code

·       The introduction of the ability for the Chairman of the ACSU (with the consent of the relevant National Cricket Federation and approval of the ICC Board) to allow a Participant who has been declared ineligible for a particular period to participate or otherwise be involved in Domestic Matches prior to the end of his/her period of ineligibility where such early reinstatement is warranted by the Participant’s conduct during the period of ineligibility.

ICC Chairman Mr N. Srinivasan said: “The process for the revision of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code was exhaustive and has been based on our learning and experiences over the past few years. This Code is now even more robust and comprehensive and it provides clarity on jurisdictional issues, gives options to the charged Participant and offers more choices to the Anti-Corruption Tribunal.

“The revised Code makes provision for a banned player to gain an early return to domestic cricket in certain circumstances. When exercising his discretionary powers in this regard, however, the Chairman of the ACSU will consider a number of factors, including the level of remorse shown by the player, his/her cooperation with the ACSU’s education programme and/or if the player has helped the ACSU by disclosing all information that, in turn, has helped it to enforce the Anti-Corruption Code in respect of others engaged in corruption conduct.”

The ICC Board also received an update on the recent work of the Integrity Working Party, which is reviewing the sport’s collective approach to the threat of corruption, the functioning of the ICC ACSU and the domestic anti-corruption units set up by Member Boards, and their inter-relationships.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “The battle against corruption remains one of cricket’s biggest challenges and we remain committed to eliminating this menace from our sport. Although the final outcome is likely to be presented at the January meeting, I have been heartened with the progress the Integrity Working Party has made.

“Whilst the ICC continues to lead the way amongst sports in the fight against corruption, there is always room for improvement. This review, though still a work in progress, has already helped to accelerate improvements in the operations of the ACSU and, especially, in improving the level of communication and cooperation between the ICC’s ACSU and the anti-corruption units of the Members.”

ICC Events

The ICC Board approved cut-off dates for qualification to the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

The top eight sides on the Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings on 30 September 2015 will qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, which will be hosted by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The cut-off date for the 10-team ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019 – also to be played in England and Wales - was set for 30 September 2017. The top eight ranked sides on that date will automatically qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, while the ninth and 10th ranked teams will play in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier to be held in Bangladesh in 2018.

ICC Presidency

The ICC Board accepted the Pakistan Cricket Board’s nomination of Mr Najam Sethi, former Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, for the ICC Presidency. Mr Sethi’s nomination will now be ratified by the General Council at the 2015 Annual Conference, following which he will take over from Mr Mustafa Kamal as the ICC President for a period of 12 months.

Suspected illegal bowling actions, player behaviour and over-rates

The ICC Board endorsed and reiterated its support for the ICC’s no-tolerance approach in dealing with suspected illegal bowling actions. It also complimented the Members for supporting the process, and proactively identifying and addressing bowlers with suspected illegal bowling actions at domestic level.

The Board noted and supported the more proactive approach of the match officials in international cricket in enforcing better standards of player behaviour and improved over-rates.

Women’s cricket

The ICC Board received an update on women’s cricket, noting the decision on the format, host and groups of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015. The event will be held in Bangkok, Thailand (dates to be announced), and the finalists of the eight-day tournament - where 20 matches will be played - will qualify for the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 India 2016.

Bangladesh and Ireland, which finished ninth and 10th in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014, will be joined in the tournament by regional qualifiers, namely China, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Scotland, host Thailand, and a qualifier from the Africa region.

Group A will include Bangladesh, Thailand, Scotland and PNG, while Group B will comprise Ireland, Netherlands, China and the Africa qualifier.