'Incompetent' ICC may face players' revolt, says FICA

Federation of International Cricketers' Association (FICA) has warned that the ICC may be faced with the biggest players' revolt in the history of the game if it continues to be "paralysed" by the BCCI and remains "incompetent" in its handling of issues facing the sport.
FICA's international legal adviser Ian Smith said the resentment among the players against the ICC's handling of affairs is so strong that they are ready to break ranks and run the show themselves.

In fact, the FICA's world conference in Texas next month, may actually see a no-confidence vote against the ICC's current set-up.

"The two days [of the conference] will be dominated by Indian cricket, what to do about the IPL, Twenty20 and Stanford," Smith was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

"People are increasingly seriously asking why aren't we walking away. The competence of the administrators is being called into question at a policy level," he added.

Smith said the players have realised their worth after being showered with millions of dollars by the Indian Premier League and its rival Indian Cricket League and feel they are better prepared to handle the game's functioning.

Heheheheh. I do hope some cricket board actually shows some guts to break away from ICC and run the game themselves without BCCI in it. While I would like any move that can cut BCCI down to size, I doubt without BCCI people would get the kind of money they make at present.

What is not clear is what issues with BCCI the players are concerned about? Why do they want ICC to stand up to BCCI and on what grounds?

Assuming this is all true, it is another example of a sport where the players, after being showered with riches, think THEY are the game when clearly they are not.

FICA's international legal adviser Ian Smith

That's not Ian 'Smuffy' Smuff from New Zealand, is it?

No, it's the ex-PM of Rhodesia.

Smith is right. The way the ICC and the boards around the world have bowed down in this IPL issue is a bit of a disgrace.

I also think that all test teams with the exception of IND and perhaps SL are now weaker than what they were 10 years ago.

It's looking more and more like players will revolt against their own cricket boards and not BCCI. [Starting with England]. BCCI money may soon corrupt every single great player we have as of now.

Batman wrote:It's looking more and more like players will revolt against their own cricket boards and not BCCI. [Starting with England]. BCCI money may soon corrupt every single great player we have as of now.

The "great" players shouldn't complain too much because most of them are already getting paid by their boards and by the IPL organizers(although some are not paid enough). IMO its the non Indian fringe players who are getting squashed by the BCCI and ICC.

It's possible to see at time in the not too distant future where the ICC becomes marginalised, not by the players but by the domestic boards, particularly those running 20/20 premier leagues.

JGK wrote:Assuming this is all true, it is another example of a sport where the players, after being showered with riches, think THEY are the game when clearly they are not.

You make a strong point. I think it's a very real danger. However, my reading of the original post is that at this point, at least, they are just mighty pissed off at the ICC, like you, me & the rest of us.

The "great" players shouldn't complain too much because most of them are already getting paid by their boards and by the IPL organizers(although some are not paid enough).

phurt...most of our great players are in retirement, cept for haydos, punter and paris...most of the rest are overpaid and overhyped players who should be glad to get their bucks and represent Australia in their underperforming fashion...none of them would be missed.