ICC set for fiery talks in Hong Kong

Saturday, 25 June 2011 00:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Hong Kong (AFP) - Cricket's governing body is set for fierce battles over moves to scrap its rotating presidency and bar “minnow” nations from the next World Cup at annual talks in Hong Kong starting on Sunday.

Powerful India, whose huge revenues give it a dominant position in the International Cricket Council (ICC), will also fight plans for blanket use of new technology allowing players to challenge umpires' decisions.

Memories are still fresh of last year's embarrassing meeting, when countries flatly refused to endorse conservative former Australian prime minister John Howard as the next ICC president, despite his nomination by Australia and New Zealand.

The debacle is thought to be at the heart of moves, reportedly spearheaded by India and England, to scrap the two-year rotational presidency, although details of any new system remain unclear.

But big changes will by met with vehement opposition from Pakistan and Bangladesh, who are scheduled to nominate the body's next-but-one leader to take power from 2014.

“We don't agree with the proposal of change and we have shown our reservations to the ICC,” Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed told the ESPNcricinfo website.

“We are in touch with the ICC over the matter and will decide the future course of action soon.”

The ICC is also expected to water down plans to let only the 10 Test nations play the 2015 World Cup -- excluding countries such as Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada and Kenya -- following widespread opposition.

Officials are believed to be in favour of retaining a 10-team limit but may consider a qualifying tournament that would give minor nations a chance of reaching the event, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand.

India will also wage a lonely battle against the Decision Review System (DRS), where wicket decisions can be checked using video, audio, ball-tracking and thermal-imaging technology in an innovation welcomed by most countries.

India, burned by several DRS challenges and with superstar batsman Sachin Tendulkar a leading opponent, has vowed to fight an official recommendation to put the technology in place for all international games.

This week, English commentator and former Test batsman Geoff Boycott urged ICC members to defy India despite its wealth and influence, which is based on enormous incomes from its cricket-crazy, billion-plus population.

“If a majority of the ICC countries believe that the (DRS) is a good improvement for international cricket, they should vote for it and say, 'Sorry India, you are in a minority',” Boycott told ESPNcricinfo.

“But there is fear to offend, and some countries are totally afraid to offend India,” he added.

“The sooner they get around to it and say, 'No. Since a majority of us believe it is good, we are going to do it', the better. Simple as that. India won't like it, but you can't be run by one country.”

The talks will kick off with four days of meetings between the chief executives' committee and executive board, followed by a full council meeting on June 30, at glitzy hotels in downtown Hong Kong.

Officials are also expected to study proposals for day-night Tests -- which have snagged on finding a suitable ball -- and will closely examine the problem of corruption, after last year's spot-fixing scandal involving Pakistan.