The International Cricket Council (ICC) Annual Conference in Colombo ended on Monday (July 22) with the governing body forming a three-member committee to review conduct of T20 World Cup 2024, which was held in Americas last month.
"The ICC Board confirmed that there will be a review into the delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. This will be overseen by three directors, Roger Twose, Lawson Naidoo and Imran Khwaja who will report back to the Board later in the year," ICC said in a media statement.
According to sources, the ICC suffered significant financial setbacks, surpassing $20 million, while staging matches in New York, Florida, and Dallas.
Reportedly, the designated budget for the US leg of the tournament was approximately $150 million. However, it was discovered that the actual expenses had considerably exceeded the allocated amount, raising concerns among influential board members of the apex body.
The ICC's troubles were further compounded by the subpar quality of drop-in pitches, issues with the ticketing system, and various logistical challenges. Moreover, a closer examination of the tender allocation process also raised eyebrows.
It is believed that the committee will thoroughly scrutinise the actions of certain high-ranking ICC executives in light of these developments.
The ICC also officially warned USA Cricket and Cricket Chile, giving them a 12-month period to address their current non-compliance with the organization's membership criteria.
The ICC has determined that both Members lack a fit for purpose detailed governance and administrative structure and systems.
"The ICC Americas office will work with Cricket Chile to support them in remedying their non-compliance. The Board agreed that a Normalisation Committee comprising of Board and Management representatives will be set up to oversee and monitor USA Cricket’s compliance roadmap and the ICC Board will reserve its right to suspend or expel the Member for continued non-compliance,” the statement further read.
The Chief Executives’ Committee confirmed the allocation of the eight regional qualifying spots for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. This would see two teams qualify from Africa and Europe, one from the Americas and three from a combined Asia and EAP regional final.
The ICC has reaffirmed its dedication to promoting equality between men's and women's cricket through its long-term strategic plan. As part of this commitment, the ICC has announced that the Women's T20 World Cup in 2030 will be expanded from 12 to 16 participating teams.
Furthermore, the ICC established the qualification cut-off date for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 qualifier as 31 October 2024. This decision aligns with the organization's ongoing efforts to foster the growth and development of women's cricket on a global scale.
The ICC also announced that Paul Reiffel, a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, has been appointed to the ICC Men's Cricket Committee.
(With TOI Inputs)
