Lawyers advice ICC to amend rules to avoid future ICLs

In the note — signed by David Richardson, the ICC’s general manager (Cricket), and David Becker, senior counsel (Commercial and Business) — the ICC has been advised that, “If it (ICL) wishes for its events to be afforded ‘official cricket’ status, its request needs to be directed to the BCCI in accordance with Regulation 33 of the ICC’s Operating Manual.”

The note adds: “Assuming that the BCCI does not approve ICL as ‘official cricket’, it is likely that ICL will apply to ICC under Regulation 32 for approval of ICL as an ‘unofficial’ cricket event. It should be noted that the current regulations relating to ‘official’ and ‘unofficial’ cricket were not drafted with domestic rebel leagues in mind. “Regulation 32, in particular, was implemented to deal with events such as one-off testimonial and exhibition-type matches (such as Asia XI versus Rest of the World XI).”

In its recommendations section 4.2, the note says: “The ICC’s legal department be asked to amend Regulations 32 and 33 to deal with domestic T20 events and rebel domestic cricket leagues expressly, having regard to the views of the Executive Board, the Chief Executive Committee and ICC’s external lawyers.”

The lawyers have further suggested that failure to address these issues will hamper the ICC in successfully defending any legal claim brought against it by ICL in future, if their application fails.

The BCCI has also sent a written notice to the ICC that it (BCCI) intends to have these regulations repealed on basis that the ICL’s demands are “incongruous and irrational.”