Shallow backs review of ICC revenue model

Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dr. Kishore Shallow believes the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) financial distribution and bilateral broadcasting revenue models should be reviewed to provide greater benefits for smaller cricketing nations but insists the regional governing body remains comfortable with its current arrangements. Shallow was responding to the recent debate surrounding the ICC’s revenue-sharing structure after CWI chief executive officer Chris Dehring described the existing system as unfair, with former CWI president Dave Cameron also supporting calls for change.

In an interview with Guardian Media Sports on Monday, Shallow said he believed Dehring’s comments may have been taken out of context while emphasizing that CWI continued to enjoy a productive relationship with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). “I suspect it was sort of taken out of context what the CEO (Chris Dehring) said,” Shallow said. “We are obviously very appreciative of our partnership with India and BCCI in particular. And, in fact, this tour has been a very successful one for us both on and off the field.”

Shallow pointed to sponsorship opportunities secured during the recent India tour, noting that the size and commercial influence of the Indian market had helped CWI attract partners for the One-Day International and Twenty20 International series. The regional team is preparing to tour Bangladesh for a two-Test series, where the Bangladesh Cricket Board will retain the domestic broadcasting rights under the same host-country principle. Although Bangladesh may not offer the same commercial opportunities as India, Shallow said CWI would still seek to benefit from sponsorship and other partnerships associated with the tour. “This is why I don’t want it to be uniquely about India. Because we are now touring Bangladesh, and it’s a very similar situation in terms of the revenue model,” he said.