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Cricket Australia rebuffs rival league, sticks by ICC
Melbourne: Cricket Australia (CA) chairman Wally Edwards on Friday stressed that its players earn as much money as proposed by a rival world cricket body, whose establishment is much speculated about in media, and committed his organisation to the ICC.
As details continue to emerge of plans by the India-based Essel Group, founded and owned by billionaire businessman Subhash Chandra, to establish a new world cricket body in competition to the International Cricket Council (ICC), there have been reports of huge potential pay cheques for high-profile Australia players.
According to reports, current Test captain Michael Clarke and opener David Warner could receive offers in the vicinity of $50 million in return for signing a 10-year contract if the Essel venture is to go ahead.
Edwards indicated that as lofty as that figure appeared ($5 million per year), it was not significantly different to the current earnings of Australia’s top players, believed to be around $4 million per annum.
“We are aware of the reports around a rebel league and they remain highly speculative, particularly given the proposed scale and complexity,” Edwards said.
“Australian cricket has never been in better health. Record crowds, TV audiences, grassroot participation and commercial support continue to drive record revenue which means player payments have never been higher and will only increase.”
Edwards added that Australian cricketers are the highest-paid athletes in their country.
“As it stands, Australia’s cricketers are the highest-paid athletes of any team sport in the country and the earnings of our top-ranked players would already be close to the numbers referenced,” he said.
“But our pay structure is broader than that. It’s about supporting professional cricket at both international and domestic level. The success of international cricket directly subsidises the wages of state cricketers. Any proposed rebel league would jeopardise that.”
“Most of Australian cricket’s revenue is reinvested back into the sport, strengthening it for the 1.1 million players at grassroots level around the country,” he added.
Come what may, Edwards said they will be committed to the ICC “to protect the interests of the game globally.”
While other details of the rival entity and launch date have not been revealed, the architect of the hugely successful Indian Premier League (IPL) Lalit Modi has confirmed that he was involved in discussions about the proposal, but opted out of any direct involvement.
The IPL’s founding commissioner, who was subsequently banned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said he was involved in discussions with Essel over several months but pulled out because he did not believe the proposal was viable.
Modi had played a key role in the demise of Essel’s erstwhile Indian Cricket League (ICL), which existed between 2007 and 2009.
In an interview to The Guardian, Modi described Essel’s venture as “a foolish plan at the moment” but warned the ICC not to underestimate Chandra.
“I looked at the plan and discussed it. We had conversations for months but I usually don’t touch something I cannot deliver, and this I cannot. It’s not something you can just do and launch; it will take years and it won’t happen overnight,” Modi said.
“It is not putting a tournament together, it’s about building the sport from the grassroots up. You have to understand Subhash Chandra as a man. If you do, you will know he goes after what he wants and he does not stop.”
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.