FAQs: all you need to know about the ICC cricket committee
In view of the controversy surrounding Laxman Sivaramakrishnan's appointment to the ICC cricket committee, here's an overview of the committee and purposes it serves
ESPNcricinfo staff
08-May-2013
In view of the controversy surrounding Laxman Sivaramakrishnan's appointment to the ICC cricket committee, here's an overview of the committee and purposes it serves.
What is the cricket committee?
It is a sub-committee of the ICC's chief executives committee (CEC). Some of the other committees that report to the executive board are the governance review committee, the code of conduct commission, and the development committee.
It is a sub-committee of the ICC's chief executives committee (CEC). Some of the other committees that report to the executive board are the governance review committee, the code of conduct commission, and the development committee.
What is it mandated to do?
The committee discusses cricket playing matters and then makes recommendations to the CEC. The laws of the game of cricket, playing conditions, matters arising from the captain's meetings, matters pertain to umpires and match referees, use of technology in the decision making process, applications for Full Member status and regulations relating to the process for bowlers reported with suspected illegal bowling actions are some of the chief issues the committee has on its agenda.
The committee discusses cricket playing matters and then makes recommendations to the CEC. The laws of the game of cricket, playing conditions, matters arising from the captain's meetings, matters pertain to umpires and match referees, use of technology in the decision making process, applications for Full Member status and regulations relating to the process for bowlers reported with suspected illegal bowling actions are some of the chief issues the committee has on its agenda.
What powers does it hold?
The committee is empowered to make recommendations that then go forward to the CEC for approval. If that approval is forthcoming then the decisions can be ratified by the ICC board.
The committee is empowered to make recommendations that then go forward to the CEC for approval. If that approval is forthcoming then the decisions can be ratified by the ICC board.
Does it have only a recommendatory role or is it mandatory to implement its decisions?
The cricket committee has no autonomous decision-making powers and acts as an advisory committee to the CEC.
The cricket committee has no autonomous decision-making powers and acts as an advisory committee to the CEC.
How is its the membership assembled?
The committee has a chairman, picked by the ICC executive board. Anil Kumble, the former India captain, occupies that post at the moment. There are 13 other members on the committee: two former players preferably with a current link to the game, appointed by the executive board; two representatives of current international players appointed by the Full Member team captains; one current national team coach appointed by the Full Member national team coaches; one representative of the Member boards appointed by the CEC. It is recommended that the appointee be a current chief executive of a Full Member country preferably with international playing experience; one current ICC Elite Panel Umpire to be appointed by the CEC; the ICC Chief Referee to be appointed by the CEC; one representative of the Associate Members appointed by the Associate Members Meeting and being a current player from one of the Associate Members with ODI status; one representative proposed by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and appointed by the CEC; one representative proposed by the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Scorers and appointed by the CEC; one representative from the media with extensive commentating and broadcast experience appointed by the CEC; and one member appointed by the ICC Women's Committee. The ICC president and chief executive act as ex-officio members on the committee and have no voting rights.
The committee has a chairman, picked by the ICC executive board. Anil Kumble, the former India captain, occupies that post at the moment. There are 13 other members on the committee: two former players preferably with a current link to the game, appointed by the executive board; two representatives of current international players appointed by the Full Member team captains; one current national team coach appointed by the Full Member national team coaches; one representative of the Member boards appointed by the CEC. It is recommended that the appointee be a current chief executive of a Full Member country preferably with international playing experience; one current ICC Elite Panel Umpire to be appointed by the CEC; the ICC Chief Referee to be appointed by the CEC; one representative of the Associate Members appointed by the Associate Members Meeting and being a current player from one of the Associate Members with ODI status; one representative proposed by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and appointed by the CEC; one representative proposed by the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Scorers and appointed by the CEC; one representative from the media with extensive commentating and broadcast experience appointed by the CEC; and one member appointed by the ICC Women's Committee. The ICC president and chief executive act as ex-officio members on the committee and have no voting rights.
What is the tenure of each official on the committee?
Three years including the chairman, but excepting the chief referee. Every other member can be re-elected provided he has not served two consecutive terms.
Three years including the chairman, but excepting the chief referee. Every other member can be re-elected provided he has not served two consecutive terms.
What has been the committee's stand on the DRS? What has it recommended and what has been the outcome?
Right from the outset the committee has recommended the use of the referral system. At every meeting, the committee has re-iterated its view that, depending on the ability to finance the technology, that the DRS should be implemented universally in Test and ODI cricket.
Right from the outset the committee has recommended the use of the referral system. At every meeting, the committee has re-iterated its view that, depending on the ability to finance the technology, that the DRS should be implemented universally in Test and ODI cricket.
Last year the ICC hired a former Cambridge University professor to verify the concerns of members like India who were not convinced about the accuracy of the two ball-tracking technology suppliers used by the ICC in the DRS. The study only re-affirmed the committee's view that the technology was highly effective in eradicating mistakes.
Although the cricket committee has been consistently recommending the DRS, the ICC Executive Board in its October 2011 meeting allowed the participating nations to decide bi-laterally whether they wished to use the DRS. The cricket committee, however, continues to back the refining of the referral system till the point the members' concern are fully addressed.
What are the recommendations of the committee that have been successfully ratified?
Some of most recent recommendations that were approved by the CEC and ratified by the ICC board were the use of two new balls in ODI cricket, and the Powerplay to be restricted to the first 10 overs plus one five-over batting Powerplay to be completed by the 40th over. Also during non-Powerplay overs only four fielders to be allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Also, no runners are permitted for a batsman, even if he is injured, in any form of cricket.
Some of most recent recommendations that were approved by the CEC and ratified by the ICC board were the use of two new balls in ODI cricket, and the Powerplay to be restricted to the first 10 overs plus one five-over batting Powerplay to be completed by the 40th over. Also during non-Powerplay overs only four fielders to be allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Also, no runners are permitted for a batsman, even if he is injured, in any form of cricket.
What is a recent recommendation the committee has been studying closely?
Day/night Test cricket and use of pink balls has been on the agenda of the committee over the last few years, after market research revealed that such an idea might be appealing to fans in countries like India and South Africa. The committee has at every instance been open to the idea but has suggested further trials before it can strongly recommend the idea to the CEC.
Day/night Test cricket and use of pink balls has been on the agenda of the committee over the last few years, after market research revealed that such an idea might be appealing to fans in countries like India and South Africa. The committee has at every instance been open to the idea but has suggested further trials before it can strongly recommend the idea to the CEC.
Is the committee independent of the MCC world cricket committee?
Yes. The MCC world cricket committee is different and has no relation with the ICC cricket committee. Though the MCC panel has periodic discussions and debates on various cricketing matters, it does not have the power to make recommendations to the ICC committee.
Yes. The MCC world cricket committee is different and has no relation with the ICC cricket committee. Though the MCC panel has periodic discussions and debates on various cricketing matters, it does not have the power to make recommendations to the ICC committee.
Source: The ICC