I recently studied the structure of World Rugby Unions and ICC. The Rugby union has given a lot of voting rights to the Emerging Nations. they have been bold enough to give 2015 World Cup to Japan. Even FIFA has been bold to give world cup to Russia and Qatar in 2018 and 2022.
ICC should be bold enough to let nations bid for 20-20 World Cup. The 2016 20-20 WC can be given to any of the nations like Nepal, Scotland, Malaysia, Ireland, Netherlands, Denmark, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Namibia, USA, Canada, Argentina, China. The condition for the bid should be that the government should be ready to support it. Also if the nation is small then it can be jointly given.
Once the bid has been decide by say 2011, then the next step should ICC and the local government immediately making a fund. This fund should be sufficient to build 4 decent stadiums in the nation (2 each if it is a joint bid). The work of the stadium should be over by 2013.
Parallel to this 4 steps would be taken
1. Since the host team would be participating hence from the fund give central contracts to atleast 30 players based on 4 Slabs-Slab A, B, C & D. The money should be competitive. 15 times per capita income of that country is decent enough. Check for your own country
2. Set up a local league structure immediately with 6 teams. Why 6 teams because that has lead to the best results.These 6 teams will have the Geography divided on a rationale of Population and Area to be covered. At start the level of clubs will be low but we have to develop it. If a present structure exists, modify it to match it. The Clubs will be provided with budget to give 40 Contracts.
All the central players will be part of the club which covers their city. However if an club does not have 2 Central Club players the central board will loan then 2 players one from Grade A or B and other from C or D.
This local league will be broadcast live on TV. Along with that the National Matches of the host will also be telecast live. Besides this as a contract with the channel ICC will provide Cricket to be covered. Other 50 overs and 20-20 matches of Test nations. In the other time old interesting matches will be shown.
Now the question on this will be why would any channel do that. The managing committee will enter into an agreement with the channel where they will cover the operating cost and guarantee minimum profits to the channel till the time no sponsors or advertisements are there. Once advertisements starts coming and operation costs are covered and minimum profit level are exceeded, ICC will have a sharing in profits. This channel will have the rights to cover the World Cup in the nation. The international broadcast will be still with the ICC.
3. Last but MOST IMPORTANT is these clubs will have fund to train coaches in local schools and introduce the game. Atleast 80% of the schools would have to be covered. Every 6 months the clubs will hold the school tournaments. The best of the students will be given scholarship to support their studies in return for min hours of cricket + Practice they would have to do as per contract. The best of the Students if good can be directly picked for the Clubs and contract offered to them.
Also the clubs would hold half yearly camps where local side will be invited to play a tournament or give trials and good players or potential players will be picked and contracts offered.
4. The last action would be marketing the event. This would include following steps
a. Advertisement on various channels from 2011 to 2016 that 20-20 WC is coming to the nation
b. Giant screens put at major cities which broadcasts the channels with which we have a contract
c. Various short program about cricket, its culture and how it is played across media, paper
d. Hiring one local celebrity as brand ambassador.
I know now the question on point 4 is that it would be very costly. It would be very costly in USA but if we look at a country say Nepal, Malaysia, Argentina or even China these costs can be easily covered.
By this way it is like ICC is investing and then taking out the returns. The total investment in a country would be easily recovered if the game picks up in the country. Meanwhile we will have high attention towards the game and it can pick up
Coming back on structure of ICC Presently in ICC structure they are 10 Permanent Members and 3 from Associate. Only test nations have a vote. In my view point it should change to provide voting right to both test teams as well as non test teams. Obviously the Test Teams can retain a majority of vote for themselves.
The voting right should be given to the teams in WCL Division 1,2&3 besides the Test Teams. Also all the 5 development bodies should have votes for themselves. So going by this the present structure would be along with votes in bracket would be
India-3
Pak-3
SL-3
BD-3
ACC-1
Afg-1
UAE-1
Oman-1
HK-1
Aus-3
NZ-3
EAP-1
PNG-1
Eng-3
ECC-1
Ire-1
Neth-1
Scot-1
Den-1
Italy-1
SA-3
Zim-3
ACA-1
Kenya-1
Nam-1
Ugan-1
WI-3
ACA-1
Can-1
Berm-1
USA-1
The present structure has power like this
Asia Block-40%
Eng, Aus Block-30%
African Block-20%
American Block-10%
In the new structure it will change but not majorly
Asia Block-33% (Down 7%)
Eng, Aus Block-33% (Up 3%)
African Block-20% (At Par)
American Block-14% (Up 4%)
This structure will make the Boards like BCCI,ECB, ACA, PCB to develop teams like Nepal, Malaysia,Jersey and other teams to come in the upper level of WCL for their own benefit
With the voting percentage of Asia decreasing and also presence of USA, Canada would be in a way supporting England, Australia.
Leaving all things apart this structure would help cricket prosper across the globe with 10 nation WC type proposal not coming.
