THE conspiracy by the International Cricket Council (ICC) bigwigs to elevate the status of India, England and Australia as the ‘big three’ of the game was the subject of a silent protest outside the Hobbs Gate at The Oval prior to the start of the fifth and final Test between England and Australia on Thursday.

The match irrelevant as it may be because of the Ashes fate already decided, the protest itself attracted a huge viewing from those entering the ground to watch the farewell Test of the Australian captain Michael Clarke and his opening batsman Chris Rogers.

British MP Damian Collins leading the protest demanded a change in the game, its governance and management.

“Cricket has been taken over by England, Australia and India at the expense of the other 102 countries that are involved in this game. It is kept hostage by these three countries,” said Collins who once also led the charge in the UK parliament against poor governance standards and corruption in FIFA, world’s football governing body.

The protesters who were also joined by filmmakers of the ‘Death of a Gentleman’, which details how the power grab by the ‘big three’ has resulted in the death of Test cricket, the revered long form of the game.

“These three titans of the game have engineered backroom power grab where cricket is the loser and England, Australia and India are now the perennial winners. Not only are they doing the wrong things by their sport but also creating conflict of interest.

“It is clear they do not have interest in developing and growing the game globally but only in their own backyards,” Collins stressed.

Under ICC revenue distribution, the ‘big three’ receive more than half of the games international revenues. While the other 102 countries including the rest of the seven Test-playing nations, a share of the remaining 48%.

“The big cricket series all being played featuring the three and reap their rewards,” said another speaker Jaimie Fuller. “Even FIFA with all its issues it faces of corruption allegations respected the need to grow the game and give each of its members equal and guaranteed level of funding.

“The ICC reduced the World Cup, its marquee event, to ten teams and also resisted taking part in the Olympics,” Fuller rued.

One of the banners amongst the protesters at The Oval was ‘Shame on you Alastair Cook’, who obviously is the captain of the ‘big three’ England.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2015

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