Zap_Brannigan Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 Finally the truth comes out. ESPN (and ICC) greed is king! ICC has let ESPN run amok. Not only have they let ESPN choose the format and the teams but has also let it choose the venues from the India games. Nice going ICC!!! http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/apr/07/ireland-cricket-world-cup-india To understand the 2015 decision it is worth considering first and foremost that the ICC is a cooperative of cricket-playing nations, with main voting rights going to the 10 full members – ie Test‑playing – countries. With the single exception of the England & Wales Cricket Board there is no full member not reliant on Indian money for its survival. India will always have the overriding say when it comes to a vote. When India and Pakistan failed to make the second stage of the 2007 World Cup, the financial fallout was so vast the ICC resolved, not least through pressure from rights holders, that such a scenario should not happen again. This 2011 World Cup did not quite close the loopholes, with England, a major market, coming perilously close to elimination. The ICC will regard this as a lucky escape. There were several elements to the decision to revert to a 10-team format for the 2015 tournament in Australia and New Zealand. First, as hosts, it was their prerogative to choose a format for approval and they did so on the basis of the 1992 tournament there, hitherto regarded as the best World Cup. Whether they did this without encouragement from India is another matter but they certainly received the support of ESPN Star which has paid in excess of $400m (£245m) for the broadcasting rights. With India its main market, the company sees time-difference, and therefore broadcasting, difficulties from Australia and New Zealand where Perth, only two and a half hours ahead, is fine but Auckland, a further five hours on, is not. ESPN pushed for a guarantee of nine India matches, with Perth predominant, which can be reasonably accommodated only with a 10-team format. Further to that the broadcasting contract, signed a while ago, states that all full members must take part in the tournament. There are 10 of them, so under the terms of the contract it is not difficult to see how the current situation has been arrived at. Any change to such thinking would require a change of heart from the full members. Bearing in mind that those countries that might have been vulnerable if there were a qualifying competition (unlikely incidentally because apart from anything else there was no time frame within a Future Tours Programme decided up until 2015) need the income from the World Cup, it was not likely to happen. And yet something has happened. The broadcasting rights for the 2019 competition in this country have not been sold yet, so there is no binding clause regarding associates or qualification. So in eight years' time there will be a pre-qualifier, in which teams such as Ireland, the Netherlands, Afghanistan and Canada will have a chance to join the party. It will not be done on rankings alone as some might advocate, because these are not considered sufficiently robust to withstand close calls of such importance. Do not underestimate the significance of this second decision to come out of Mumbai this week, or the diplomacy that went into arriving at it, for it could mean that Zimbabwe do not qualify, or perhaps Bangladesh, or possibly even West Indies. Each, it is reported, fought their corner vehemently to protect their position but in the end were forced to concede the ground. Somehow the turkeys really have been persuaded to vote for Christmas.
The Outsider Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 What's the big deal? It's the best scenario for the public in India to watch majority of the home team's matches at the best time slot.
straight.drive Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 Hmmm.....it gives me pleasure to read the standard childish whining from arrogant pommies. Look at the head line of the article. Looks as if evil India has shut Ireland off the world cup. Coming to OP, yep, ESPN has got ICC by its balls.
ganeshran Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 Perth is one of the most bouncy and fast pitches in Australia While all NZ grounds are small and batsmens paradise
Sid Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 No thnx broadcasters,we can wake up early and watch matches in Sydney and NZ grounds :D
Prakat Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 Yup. Broadcasters and Advertisers rule. Big D. It's not like there's any sporting advantage for India. The Waca is still the fastest pitch going.
Prakat Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 No thnx broadcasters' date='we can wake up early and watch matches in Sydney and NZ grounds :D[/quote'] Time for BCCI to step in and b*tchslap ESPN. :cantstop:
ganeshran Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 If it gives India a competitive advantage I am ready to wake throughout the night to watch the matches . ESPN :finger:
NareshK Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 Why should ESPN decide where India should play its games ? I dont think its right that India should have to play in unfavorable conditions like Perth just because ESPN thinks its good for viewership.
Sid Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 Time for BCCI to step in and b*tchslap ESPN. :cantstop: B->
straight.drive Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 Well with our influence and money bags we can "persuade" australians to slow down WACA and then enjoy the whining from poms and ozzies :winky:
NareshK Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 Well with our influence and money bags we can "persuade" australians to slow down WACA and then enjoy the whining from poms and ozzies :winky: This influence is just over hyped by jealous neighbors and other people who think BCCI fixes everything. Agreed that India brings in a lot of revenue to the ICC coffers but that doesnt mean they are controlling other members. Others can correct me if I'm wrong. To my mind, CA and ECB still have more control over the game than anybody else. Why do you think Australian players never get so much as a fine despite bad on field behavior while Indian players immediately get banned ?
cowboysfan Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 perth is a good venue for us,our bowlers will realy enjoy the sea breezes and will make the ball talk.
EnterTheVoid Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 I've actually been to the WACA and here are my 2 cents ... Pack the team with swing bowlers and you're good to go. Make sure the bowlers make good use of the "Fremantle Doctor". Perth is not as fast and bouncy as it used to be so you're not going to scare anyone on express pace alone. In fact, I'd go as far as saying the pace would work in favor of the batsman as the ground is a tiny little ground and the outfield is lightning back. And unlike the MCG, Perth doesn't use drop in pitches ... PERTH MELBOURNE
straight.drive Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 This influence is just over hyped by jealous neighbors and other people who think BCCI fixes everything. Agreed that India brings in a lot of revenue to the ICC coffers but that doesnt mean they are controlling other members. Others can correct me if I'm wrong. To my mind, CA and ECB still have more control over the game than anybody else. Why do you think Australian players never get so much as a fine despite bad on field behavior while Indian players immediately get banned ? It would be magnanimous to call them as jealous. Especially, after the conspiracy theories some of them churn out.
DomainK Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 Never easy to defend the title. Perth is a difficult track, but we have won our share of matches there.
PaiN_KiLLeR Posted April 8, 2011 Posted April 8, 2011 This is good news. It is always good to have tough games in the league stage.
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