This is the first big blow. The ICC has tried and run helter-skelter to convince boards to conform. When weekends become a greater workload, it usually means either there is a game of cricket on or there are major problems at work. Australia have confirmed their refusal and the ICC have much to do if the Champions Trophy is to keep its date in three weeks’ time.
Talks with New Zealand yielded little as neither the board nor the players could be convinced. England are holding meetings today in a bid to hear the players’ point of view. Last Sunday’s discussions with ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat did not do the job. South Africa have refused to state their stance till the end of the England tour, giving the ICC a few sleepless nights with just three days between the end of the tour and the Champions Trophy.
Australia were always in doubt and this is one area where the Trans-Tasmanian rivalry takes a back seat as the neighbours are thinking along the same lines. Australia refused to tour Pakistan earlier in the year and it was going to be very unlikely that they would say yes but also, likely that they would voice their opinion only after knowing there were more who were thinking on the same lines.
But with the pressure to make a call mounting and the efforts getting more frantic, it was hardly likely that a team like Australia would back down in its stance only because the ICC had greater support. And now Australia’s vote is likely to swing the balance. The blasts in Pakistan and the political turmoil would not have made it easy either.
But the Australia have another dagger up their sleeve. Their discussions revealed that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have bracketed Sri Lanka in the same level of danger as Pakistan due to the rebel Tamil Tigers. The ICC could well face the same scenario of a wild goose chase even if they did take a call and shift the event to Sri Lanka.
Despite the roundabouts with the ICC task force, convincing the players has proved to be a monumental task and one that is not showing a win-win scenario for the ICC and member nations. With huge amount of sponsorships and television deals, the ICC finds itself in a major crisis, unless it comes up with an eleventh hour plan that see the event going through within a hitch in a venue of little resistance.
The ICC cannot dictate terms in the situation they find themselves in and boards are unwilling to take the responsibility of guaranteeing the safety of their players and hence, leaving the men to take a personal call. The Champions Trophy is looking helplessly for refuge and none seem willing to oblige.
