A 'rising' among players threatens ICC

New Delhi, May 20 (UNI) The International Cricket Council (ICC) can expect a 'strike' from International players, if it fails to provide a detailed plan on the changes it can bring to the game within three months.

''We need to look and we need some answers, and if we don't get them in the near future we need to review the whole process of what events players appear in. That would have a major impact on the ICC business, sponsors and revenue,'' said Richard Bevan, one of the leading spokesperson of Federation of International Cricketer's Association's (FICA).

''What happened at the World Cup can do damage round the world both to cricket's credibility and its commercial viability,'' he told a website.

A FICA poll, conducted on 45 cricketers from the nine Test-playing nations, revealed that 56 per cent of players were not satisfied with ICC's governance and its ability to conduct big events like recent World Cup.

Players are voicing their concerns on issues like the amount of cricket being played, lack of former cricketers in the decision making body, distribution of money to ensure the well-being of the game in its traditional areas and the quality of management.

The First Test match at Lord's is providing an ample proof to players argument where a under-prepared West Indies team, coming after their World Cup debacle, were given no time to practise before the match.

Also the players' organisation believe that the ICC have got themselves into a mess to please television rights-holders, as reducing the International tournaments means reducing the money to be generated.

This according to players is affecting the status of the game as was evident in the last World Cup.

''The big problem is that if you keep making mistakes you undermine the whole game,'' said Bevan.

Though the ICC dismissed FICA's poll, saying it only represented players from five Full Member countries and none of the Associates, hence a sample survey cannot provide a real picture, it cannot undermine the growing resentment.

However, the players do not want to run the game themselves, they have no wish to strike, they merely want affairs run better on their behalf added Bevan.

UNI