The sport of cricket, ranked as the third most popular globally, boasts an approximate fan base of 2.5 billion enthusiasts spread across the world. Initially known as the “gentleman’s game” and occasionally criticized for its leisurely pace, cricket has evolved into a high-speed, adrenaline-pumping endeavor.
The earliest international match occurred in 1844 between the United States of America (USA) and Canada in New York. However, this match wasn’t officially recognized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) due to the council’s non-existence at that time. The inaugural official cricket match transpired between Australia and England in Melbourne in 1877.
The first-ever Cricket World Cup was hosted in 1975 in England, with the dominant West Indies clinching the championship.
India faced a challenging period during the 1975 and 1979 World Cup tournaments, winning only two matches and being perceived as the weakest team at the time. Wisden Sports magazine’s Chief Editor, David Frith, notably stated in an article that a team like India should refrain from participating in the tournament until significant improvements are made. However, India’s performance shifted positively during the 1983 World Cup, securing victories in four out of six group stage matches, ultimately triumphing over England in the semi-finals.
The historic win against the West Indies in the final at Lords marked a pivotal moment, boosting the confidence of NKP Salve, inspiring him to challenge the British dominance in cricket. Salve, along with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Sri Lanka, established the Asian Cricket Committee, independent of ICC control, in 1984. This consortium organized the Asia Cup, showcasing the capability of southern countries to host cricket tournaments.
Initially facing financial constraints to host a World Cup, Salve collaborated with Pakistan and sought support from Dhirubhai Ambani, eventually securing funds and proposing a rotational policy at an ICC meeting. According to this policy, a new nation would host the World Cup every four years. Consequently, India and Pakistan obtained the hosting rights for the 1987 World Cup.
The financial scenario underwent a transformation post-1983. Earlier, Indian players received minimal allowances and match fees. However, the advent of satellite television allowed widespread viewership of cricket even in remote Indian villages, attracting foreign companies keen on marketing their products in India. Consequently, BCCI capitalized on broadcast rights, elevating its financial status to become the wealthiest cricket board globally.
In 1991, during South Africa’s return to international cricket, BCCI took charge of broadcasting rights, a stark contrast to previous situations where Doordarshan, the Indian television network, had charged for broadcasting matches. The influx of globalization into India further increased financial opportunities for cricket through foreign companies.
The narrative took a significant turn in 1996 when India secured the hosting rights for the World Cup, diverging from the rotational policy agreed upon earlier. However, this decision met resistance when Australia and the West Indies refused to play in Sri Lanka. Jagmohan Dalmiya, a BCCI administrator, recognized the need for an Asian representation at the ICC and successfully won elections in 1997.
The Indian Premier League (IPL), recognized as the second-wealthiest sports league globally, significantly impacted T20 cricket leagues worldwide. However, BCCI restricted Indian players from participating in other leagues to safeguard its own interests, wielding considerable influence over other cricket boards reliant on revenue generated from India’s tours.
This hegemony exerted by BCCI led to concerns raised in an independent report submitted to the ICC in 2012, highlighting governance changes needed within ICC to balance power dynamics and ensure equitable distribution of funds to associate nations.
Moreover, the dominance of BCCI, primarily controlled by Indian politicians and businessmen, reflects a concentration of power within private organizations rather than former cricketers steering the sport’s trajectory. This concentration, coupled with BCCI’s commercial interests, has led to a narrowing of opportunities for other cricket-playing nations and a reduction in the number of teams participating in global tournaments, shifting the focus away from cricket’s growth and inclusivity.
The sport’s governance has thus been tainted by commercial interests, stifling its potential to flourish globally and sidelining less financially powerful cricketing nations.
