BCCI clears Team India's participation in Champions Trophy

India confirmed their participation in next month's Champions Trophy in England and Wales on Sunday after initially delaying the announcement of their squad over a revenue sharing disagreement with cricket's governing body.

The dispute intensified when India failed to submit a squad for the one-day international tournament by an April 25 deadline after its cricket board (BCCI) was unable to stall a new income model being adopted by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"The Board unanimously authorised the acting honorary secretary of the BCCI to continue negotiations with the ICC in the best interest of the BCCI while keeping its legal options open," the BCCI said after a special general meeting. "The BCCI... unanimously decided that the Indian cricket team will participate in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. The all-India senior selection meeting will be held tomorrow, May 8, in New Delhi to pick the team."

At last month's ICC meetings, the BCCI was outvoted 13-1 in its bid to halt the revised deal which considerably slashes India's share from global events in the 2015-23 cycle. Unimpressed by the $293 million forecast, down from the $570 million it would have received under a 2014 arrangement, the BCCI responded by refusing to name a squad for the June 1-18 eight-team competition.

Acting BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary will now continue to negotiate with the world governing body to get a bigger share of ICC revenues during the next eight-year cycle. "The ICC welcomes the unanimous decision from the BCCI special general meeting this morning to confirm the participation of defending champions India in next month's Champions Trophy," the ICC said in a statement. "The hundreds of millions of cricket fans around the world just want to see good cricket and now we can all look forward to a superb event in England and Wales starting on 1 June."

"The outcome of the meeting has been positive. India will participate in the Champions Trophy. There is no pulling out. Tomorrow the squad will be sent to the ICC," IPL governing council member Rajeev Shukla told reporters after the meeting. "The honorary Secretary (Amitabh Chaudhary) has been authorised to renegotiate with ICC as far as the financial model is concerned. There will be no binding on him. Our approach should be that of trying to resolve through dialogue rather than being confrontational. There are five six issues regarding revenue and governance model which need to be sorted," Shukla said.

COA head Vinod Rai said he had already informed the players that they were going for the event starting June 1 in England. "Of course I am relieved that they are playing Champions Trophy. But players always knew they were going. I had spoken personally to Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli that you guys are playing Champions Trophy. I have always said that $100 million more is okay," Rai said. "India can make up the money by playing bilateral series. They get Rs 45 crore for playing a single match at home," he added after dropping in to attend IPL GC meeting.

While it is being perceived as a climbdown but Amitabh Chaudhary has made it clear that participation in the Champions Trophy doesn't mean concerns are not there. "BCCI reserves all legal options against the ICC. Playing in the Champions Trophy does not mean we agree with the ICC Revenue and governance model. Not only revenue share but governance structure is also an issue," Chaudhary told newspersons.

However, the former Jharkhand top cop agreed that negotiations should continue. "The Negotiation process will be an ongoing one before the ICC Annual Conference in June. Other members I spoke to during the April round of meetings are also keen on amicably resolving the matter," Chaudhary said. "The SGM is unanimous on one aspect. Our position as the predominant cricket country shouldn't be diminished. Most ICC members empathise with India. Now renegotiation is a sensitive issue. I wouldn't like to comment on any figures," he said.

Like Shukla, Chaudhary also praised COA's role in trying to take all BCCI units on board. It was learnt that when the discussion on whether to send a notice to ICC took place, one of the West Zone unit official apprised that if Members Participation Agreement is invoked, one needs to give a 30-day notice period to cure the breach but India's first match against Pakistan on June 4 is before the stipulated time.

Asked about Srinivasan's aggressive stance, Chaudhary said, "He gave his views as he has an intricate knowledge on ICC issues."

The joint Secretary also dodged questions about Shashank Manohar being the bete noire of BCCI. "I don't believe individuals deal with institutions. Two institutions are involved and not individuals," he said.

Admitting that team selection has been delayed, Chaudhary said that coach Anil Kumble and other support staff's contracts, which come up for renewal after Champions Trophy, will be discussed very soon.

The option to boycott the event by revoking the Members Participation Agreement (MPA) between the ICC and the BCCI had been gaining traction within the board prior to Sunday's meeting despite a number of former players opposing any withdrawal.

The four Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (COA), who currently supervise BCCI operations, however, instructed the board to ensure the team continued their preparations to defend their title. The COA stepped in to try and end the dispute with the panel also meeting BCCI members on Saturday to remind them that a confrontational approach would not be in the board's interests.

"We wanted them to take a middle ground and strive for a negotiated outcome with the ICC," a COA source said. "We are glad that we have achieved that and the team will play in the Champions Trophy."

The top eight sides in the world rankings compete in the Champions Trophy with India winning the last edition in 2013.

(Inputs from Reuters and PTI)