BCCI has its way, L Sivaramakrishnan appointed in ICC cricket committee

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, the former India leg spinner, has joined Kumar Sangakkara as a players’ representative on the ICC cricket committee, replacing Tim May, the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) chief executive, in controversial circumstances. Sivaramakrishnan, currently a commentator on Indian television, is reported to have defeated May in a hotly contested election that saw intense lobbying by both sides and eventually, as always, BBCI got its way with what many believed were arm twisting tactics.

The ICC confirmed Sivaramakrishnan’s appointment in a press release on Monday, saying: “Sangakkara and Sivaramakrishnan were recently elected by a vote of the 10 Test captains, and will serve on the Cricket Committee for a three-year term from 2013-15.”

There were sharp reactions from the so-called western lobby as Tony Irish, the chief executive of the South African players association, condemned the BCCI’s interventionist approach to the election process. “It’s a sad day for the governance of cricket when players aren’t allowed to freely elect their representatives, Cricket is a global game and the decisions that are made should be global decisions for the benefit of the global game, not for the benefit of one country, whichever country that is.”

However, there were counter reactions from the opposite lobby, perceived to be a sub-continental block. A member of a board that voted for Sivaramakrishnan opposed the view, saying, “It is disingenuous for FICA or its supporters to protest because in an election, candidates canvas votes and FICA did the same thing on Tim May’s behalf. The fact is that May didn’t have the support of many captains and that showed in the votes. Suggestions that May had the support of nine captains to start with are completely baseless.”

Here are some of the reactions on Twitter of Sivaramakrishnan’s appointment

btw , Tim May had good relations with players from all countries. has LS ever interacted with players outside india ? or more imp. chennai?

— Rahul (@Rahul_bill) May 6, 2013

 

Sivaramakrishnan replaces Tim May on ICC’s Cricket Committee after BCCI strong-arm international captains into changing votes. #DISGRACE

— Alternative Cricket (@AltCricket) May 5, 2013

 

The ICC cricket committee is a leading decision-maker for the game’s governing body on all the on-field related matters, including playing conditions such as the use of the DRS. It is headed by Anil Kumble, and includes Andrew Strauss and Mark Taylor (past players), Gary Kirsten (Full Member team coach representative), David White (Member board representative), Steve Davis (umpires’ representative), Ranjan Madugalle (match referees’ representative), John Stephenson (MCC representative), David Kendix (statistician), Trent Johnston (Associate representative), Ravi Shastri (media representative) and Clare Connor (women’s representative).