In terms of the number of u-turns it presides over, the ICC would make the likes of Nick Clegg, David Cameron and perhaps even Tony Blair blush with embarrassment.
But this week they have surpassed even themselves by making not one, but two major u-turns.
The announcement that they have gone back on their decision three months ago to make the Decision Review System mandatory is no great surprise given India’s sustained opposition. That doesn’t make it right of course, but what the BCCI wants, the BCCI usually gets.
However, the likely delay of the World Test Championship from 2013 to 2017 did come as a shock and major disappointment, particularly as the prospect of such an event was a) almost universally welcomed, and b) seemed intrinsic to the manifesto of Haroon Lorgat.
The reason for its postponement is certainly cause for some concern. It seems that the ICC’s contracted broadcaster ESPN Star Sports does not see the merits of a World Test Championship, with the ICC releasing a statement saying:
"Without the support and consent of the ICC's broadcast partner, ESPN Star Sports, the financial implications on the members and the development of the game would be significant."
Whilst this may or may not be true, one might have thought that the ICC would have sought ESPN’s opinion BEFORE announcing its detailed plans for the Championship. Imbecilic is the word that comes most readily to mind.
And what do we get instead? Why the Champions Trophy, of course. A tournament that nobody cares for but that refuses to die. If the world suddenly suffered a holocaust, it is probably safe to bet that the cockroaches and any other survivors would form themselves into teams, don some coloured clothing and play for the Champions Trophy on what remains of Lord’s Cricket Ground.
We’ve stopped being exasperated by the ICC at the Reverse Sweep because it is simply futile, but we will garner that if the ICC was to develop a car, it would probably have four reverse gears and only one forward one.
Where next?
Abolishing runners in international cricket: has the ICC joined the Health & Safety brigade?
Dhoni’s no-ball and the case for or against technology
Arrogant ICC takes the magic out of the World Cup by killing the Associates
Revealed: The ICC's new plans for the 2015 Groundhog Day Cricket World Cup
Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes
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The ICC is a perpetual embarrassment to the sport. Cricket survives and flourishes very much in spite of the ICC.
Posted by: wilo | Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 18:21