Rohit Raj (CTP, FRM®, PDipBF, CCPP)’s Post

As I watch the T-20 World Cup of cricket unfold in the United States and the West Indies, I can't help but wonder about the future of the sport. The International Cricket Council (ICC), the global governing body of cricket, faces a critical juncture as it navigates the increasing influence of billionaires in the sport. With more and more billionaires owning league teams in key markets, the ICC must be vigilant to maintain its independence and impartiality. The last thing we want is for conflicts of interest and biased decision-making to undermine the ICC's credibility and trust among member nations and stakeholders. But that's not all - there's also a risk of billionaire interests dominating decision-making processes, which would compromise the ICC's credibility as the leading representative of global cricket interests. This could lead to a loss of trust and confidence among other member nations and stakeholders, and potentially even a shift in power dynamics and a diminished role for the ICC. Furthermore, the ICC's ability to promote and develop cricket globally might be compromised if billionaire interests prioritize their own domestic leagues and tournaments over international cricket. And if billionaires withdraw their support or prioritize their own interests over international cricket, the ICC's financial stability might be compromised as well. It's clear that the ICC faces significant challenges in maintaining its independence and relevance in a cricket world dominated by billionaires. But it's not all doom and gloom - by strengthening governance and regulations, ensuring diverse representation and decision-making processes, promoting and developing cricket globally, maintaining financial independence and transparency, and fostering strong relationships with member nations and stakeholders, the ICC can uphold its mission to promote and govern international cricket. A strong and independent ICC is essential for maintaining the sport's integrity and credibility, and it's in the interest of both the sport itself and those billionaires who have made positive contributions to it. By maintaining its independence and credibility, the ICC can continue to promote and develop cricket globally, providing a platform for billionaires and other stakeholders to contribute to the sport's growth and success. This will ultimately benefit the sport as a whole, as well as those who have invested in it. As a cricket fan, I urge the ICC to take these challenges seriously and take the necessary steps to maintain its independence and relevance. The future of cricket depends on it. About the Author: Max Shaukat is a pioneering cricket entrepreneur. He has hosted multiple international matches and events in North America, featuring top test teams and legendary cricket players. Max's efforts have significantly grown cricket in North America, paving the way for its continued success.

🏏 Life as a Metaphor for Cricket 🌍 Contemporary life suffers from unresolved colonial conflicts, that much is true, though unpalatable to some. Cricket is no different, and the southern summer in 1999 bore witness to an epic clash in this vein. Sri Lanka took on England in a thrilling match at the Adelaide Oval, officiated by local Australian umpires. It is thought of as perhaps the most ill-tempered, and yet one of the most exciting, games ever played. A wonderful article on it by The Cricket Monthly from ESPN in comments below. The encounter encapsulated the essence of how life serves as a metaphor for cricket. To fully appreciate this connection, let us delve into the basics of late-20th century history. The British PM made "Wind of Change" speech in 1960, but decolonisation remained more-theory-than-practice for decades to come. This state continues in many ways even today. France for example maintains its troops, and controls the monetary systems, in large parts of Africa. Or look at the recent farrago in the British royal family about the skin colour of a baby. A cricketing case-in-point was the racialist South African polity in 1960s. They did not play non-white players in their team and did not wish to play against black players. The then predominantly white cricketing nations - England, New Zealand and Australia - continued to play with apartheid South Africa until 1970, despite international protests, UN resolutions and SA even leaving the International Cricket Council! Statements on equality proved to be hollow rhetoric, mirroring racialist preferences widespread in societies. This went on until cricketing results on the field forced through inevitable change. The World Cup was won by the West Indies in 1975 and 1979, by India in 1983, Pakistan in 1992 and Sri Lanka in 1996. These achievements showed a better game, and catalysed change off the field. Cricket has front-run decolonisation in economic, political and social domains since. Fast forward to today, and cricket continues to inspire the future. The franchise league tournaments around the world and the English cricket team showcase the incredible gains from multiculturalism. For example, England in 2019 saw an Irish-born captain leading a team with talismans of Pakistani, Kiwi and Barbadian heritage winning the World Cup, beating NZ in perhaps the greatest one day game ever played. Much like a cricket match that ebbs and flows, the journey of equality in our lives is filled with ups and downs. Even in the face of deep-seated prejudices, we can overcome obscurantism, achieve greatness and win -- all the while playing by the rules! 🌏🏆 #Cricket #Life #Equality International Cricket Council Cricket Australia Sri Lanka Cricket England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB)

Is Jay Shah on the verge of becoming the greatest cricket administrator of all time? Let’s look at what he has done in the last few years: 1. Increased ICC Revenue Share: As Head of the ICC Financial Committee, Jay increased the percentage share of ICC revenue for: - Ireland: from 2.2% to 3% - Afghanistan: from 2.2% to 2.8% - Associates: from 9% to 11.2% 2. Cricket in Global Games: His leadership changed the BCCI’s stance on cricket in the Olympics, leading to: - ICC's proposal for LA2028 - Inclusion of cricket in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games 3. India's International Tours: Under his guidance, India has toured every Full Member nation in the FTP (except Pakistan), fostering international relations and competitive cricket. 4. Revival of ACC: Revived the ACC and its pathway events, providing opportunities for over 20 member nations through: - ACC Challenger Cup - Premier Cup - Emerging Asia Cup 5. Women's Cricket Advancements: - Start of the Women's Premier League (WPL) - Equal match fees for Indian teams - More series and 'A' games for the women’s team 6. Prize Money Equality: - Equal prize money for men's and women's ICC events - Increased prize money for Indian domestic tournaments - Record prize money of ₹125 crore for the World Cup Champions India 7. New National Cricket Academy (NCA): Establishment of a state-of-the-art NCA. Credit where it's due, Mr Shah. Your efforts are truly commendable. 👍

In a significant development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced its stance on the potential participation of the Indian cricket team in the Champions Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan. Amidst widespread speculation and anticipation regarding the Indian team's tour to Pakistan, the BCCI has clarified that the decision is contingent upon the approval from the Indian government. This announcement comes amidst a backdrop of heightened diplomatic relations and ongoing discussions between the two neighboring countries. While cricket has often served as a unifying force between India and Pakistan, the decision to tour Pakistan for a major tournament carries significant implications, not only for the cricketing fraternity but also for the broader geopolitical landscape. . . . . . . . . #initiatemagazine #initiate #initiators #PakVsIndia #ChampionsTrophy #championstrophy #ChampionsTrophy2025 #BCCIUpdate #ChampionsTrophy2025 #CricketDiplomacy #IndiaPakistanCricket #SportsDiplomacy #CricketRelations #Geopolitics #SportingEngagements #GovernmentApproval #CricketTours #DiplomaticRelations #CricketDecision #BCCIAnnouncement #IndiaPakistanRelations #CricketingFraternity #SportsAndPolitics #CricketNews #SportingUnity #CricketRivalries #TrendingSportsNews

Last month, I wrote about allegations of double standards in how the ICC INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL approached political interference within their Member Associations. At that point, Australia was the only country that had refused to play bilateral fixtures against Afghanistan due to the “marked deterioration in human rights for women and girls” (who have been banned from playing any sport since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021). To date, the ICC has taken the view that it will “not penalise the Afghanistan Cricket Board, or its players, for abiding by the laws set by the government of their country”. In my article (accessible via this link: https://lnkd.in/eRu_Ht4U), I said that “if other Full Members, particularly the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), come under pressure from their respective governments to act akin to Cricket Australia, the ICC may be forced to reassess its stance on the issue.” Well, guess what, the ECB has now followed Cricket Australia, with CEO Richard Gould announcing this week that England will not schedule a bilateral series against Afghanistan as long as the Taliban-ruled country continues to refuse to field a women’s team. Whilst England and Afghanistan have never played a bilateral series (the most recent meeting being at the Men’s 50-Over World Cup in October 2023), two of the “big three” Member Associations have taken matters into their own hands. Unilateral action of this nature is far from ideal for the ICC - not so much from a scheduling perspective, but in exposing governance limitations, lack of uniformity, and the difficulty of divorcing sport and politics. #afghanistancricket #englandcricket #icc #sportsgovernance https://lnkd.in/edwsxuwy

On 19 March 2024, Cricket Australia ("CA") announced its withdrawal from a scheduled Men’s T20 series against Afghanistan because of the ongoing restrictions on women/girls in the country (who are banned from playing any sport and deprived many basic human rights under the ruling Taliban). This has thrust the spotlight on Afghanistan’s continued status as a “Full Member” of the ICC INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL and whether more national cricket associations should be following CA's lead by taking matters into their own hands. The ICC’s inaction towards the Afghanistan Cricket Board (“ACB”) appears even more stark given that, as recently as November 2023, it suspended Sri Lanka Cricket (“SLC”) due to a “serious breach of its obligations… to manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government interference”. Although SLC's suspension was subsequently lifted in January this year, there have been allegations of double standards in circumstances where Afghan women/girls are banned from even playing cricket under the Taliban. Such outright prohibition is, on the face of it, one of the more extreme examples of government interference. Against such a backdrop, albeit a complex geo-political one, it begs the overarching question: why has the ICC not taken action against the ACB in accordance with its governance framework? In this article, I examine: (1) Some of the express constitutional and regulatory requirements for ICC Members; (2) The ICC’s historic handling of allegations of “political inference” in cricket; (3) The events leading to SLC’s recent suspension; (4) Whether the ACB’s circumstances are distinguishable (and/or if the ACB should be afforded “special” treatment); and (5) What the future of Afghan cricket might entail. Have a read! #afghanistancricket #sportsgovernance #icc #humanrights #srilankacricket https://lnkd.in/eRu_Ht4U

What happened at the Arun Jaitley stadium yesterday was not right ; Values have no place in a world obsessed with making the big bucks.. Cricket, once known as the gentlemen's game, has seen significant transformations, particularly in the era of vast financial investments. Yesterday marked an unprecedented moment in the sport as Angelo Matthews was timed out for failing to occupy the crease to face his first ball within two minutes of entering the field. The reason was a helmet issue, a matter of safety that should take precedence over any rule in the ICC rulebook. In a world where the tragic loss of Philip Hughes is a painful memory, prioritizing the safety of batsmen should be paramount. It's perplexing that while batsmen have provisions for concussion tests when the ball hits their helmet, even when they're unhurt, we witnessed a batsman being timed out. This has sparked international outrage in the cricket community. This incident occurred during the Sri Lanka Vs. Bangladesh match in the ongoing World Cup, a match won by Bangladesh. But at what cost? It's essential to consider the fairness and integrity of the game, especially when it comes to the safety of players. This situation reminds me of Sourav Ganguly's near miss in the 2007 Cape Town test when South Africa's Graeme Smith didn't appeal after a six-minute delay. Rules exist, but they should be applied with an understanding of the implications, especially when the safety of the batter is at stake. As a manager, I believe we must recognize that while rules are vital, they should be seen through a lens of empathy. We need to conduct a cost-benefit analysis, keeping values, sympathy, and empathy in mind. In an age where AIML and smart contracts can automate rules, human values and leadership qualities remain irreplaceable. There's a distinction between being an administrator and a leader, and a good manager should lean towards the latter. Let's remember that cricket, like any endeavor, requires a balance between rules and compassion. What is your take on the entire ordeal? Do share your opinion in the comments down below 👇 #cricketfans #safetyfirst #leadershipqualities #sympathy #empathy #srilankacricket #iccworldcup2023 #linkedinforcreators #linkedinfamily

India’s influence in the world of cricket • There is lot criticism against India for dominating / influencing Cricket’s global decisions via the ICC. • Emotionally, yes it could be irritating (for some nations more than others), but there is a perfectly rationale reason for that (am not in any way justifying this). • Firstly, Cricket is a Commonwealth Game, even in countries outside the Commonwealth, its people of Commonwealth origin. • Cricket is no where close to being a truly global game like football. There isn’t a single player of any repute in the foreseeable future- who is a Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian, German, French, Nigerian, Indonesian. • Within the Commonwealth, with 1.4 billion people India is by far the largest market in terms of eyeballs, which means the largest advertising, sponsorship, endorsement and gates. Now with the IPL their position is even more stronger, a very dominant force within the world of cricket. • So, much like a majority shareholder of a company, they will continue to call the shots. If the global cricketing watching public does not like it, it will show up on the audiences, ratings, revenues. If not, its just a storm in a tea cup! • Countries like ENG, AUS, NZ may have relatively smaller populations, but higher per capita income to support cricket. Countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, despite low per capita, has large populations – which makes it a larger market for cricket. • Also if any country (except perhaps ENG & AUS) don’t play India in bi-lateral series, they will not be financial sustainable– based on simple economics. Leave emotions aside. • Effectively India is subsiding some of the weaker cricket playing nations. Without funding cricket, or any commercial sport, cannot survive. • If smaller nations want to break out of this, you need build world class performance that will attract global audiences, beyond the small population nations.

𝐁𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐟𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 🔥 But why ? Because they have beaten New Zealand by a massive margin. That's a clear warning for other teams that they have to come up with proper plans against Afghanistan. Afghan team is the part of Group of death including another strong team West Indies. Second win for Afghanistan in the World Cup and they are most likely to qualify for the Super 8 Stage as they have one game against Papua New Guinea as well. Afghanistan has really improved in ICC tournaments and their win against top sides can't be considered as upsets any more. R Gurbaz, Rashid Khan & Fazalhaq Farooqui were top performers for Afghanistan. They are highly experienced players now as they participate in various leagues as well. How far Afghanistan going in the World Cup. Predictions? #icct20wc2024