ICC is not SLC’s enemy – David Richardson

The Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Council (ICC) David Richardson addressed the media today (15) at the SLC headquarters.

David Richardson, on his trip to Sri Lanka addressed the media about the situation that took place way back in 2014 where some countries were ousted due to decisions by the ICC. Richardson mentioning “The international game has gone through a period of turbulence, which the media would call the big three take over, where the governance, the financial module and the playing structures was thrown into turmoil by the resolutions that were passed by the ICC back in April 2014”

He also mentioned that the ICC has taken steps towards putting things right “But the new president, under the leadership of Shashank Manohar the ICC is reviewing those resolutions and (I think) is on the verge of putting forward to the board for consideration some proposals that i think will do wonders for International cricket, they will cover the governance area. It will cover a new revised financial module. Hopefully provide the full members a bigger slice of the cake”

He stressed the fact that “SLC to see us (ICC) as an ally opposed to an enemy, we are there as the fraternal maternal governing body of the sport” further mentioning that the ICC is here to work together ”We are there to work together and not in competition”

Richardson stated that what took place in 2014 was due to countries like Sri Lanka and South Africa not been able to stand up to the big three (England, Australia and India) “What happened in 2014 was unfortunately due to countries like Sri Lanka, New Zealand and South Africa not being able to stand up to the big boys”

Finally ensuring that situations like that will not take place again, “I don’t think that would happen again. As you’ve shown on the field, Sri Lanka deserves a place at that big table”

Richardson was pleased to see the progress of SLC and where it is heading in the future “We certainly see the progress you have made, very pleased to see the strategy you have in place going forward. It is certainly better to have a plan than no plan and I am sure that Sri Lankan cricket will go from strength to strength”

When questioned about why the big three nations get five test series and minnows such as Sri Lanka and New Zealand get three or less test series and about giving equal amounts of tests to all nations, Richardson answered “I think our test rankings do a reasonable job in the circumstances. In other words recognizing that the number of matches played by different countries is different, the quality of opposition is different, I think the ranking should do a reasonable job in creating at least some context, and doing a good job in determining at a particular time in the history of cricket who is number one and number two”

Further adding about the test league and/or the two tier test league “you do recall that the ICC was considering a two tier test league but understandably Sri Lanka were not up to it, but i always viewed that Sri Lanka were good enough to take part in the top division, I understand why Sri Lanka were reluctant to take that rout. But as an alternative to that we were talking of two groups of equal standards and eventually play a final every two years and have a test champion” and ended mentioning “it is not confirmed and it needs quite a bit of discussion”