Cricket Australia chairman defends controversial proposal

SYDNEY, Australia (CMC) — Cricket Australia (CA) chairman Wally Edwards has defended a plan to centralise power in world cricket with India and England.

Edwards, a key figure in the drafting of a proposal, has broken his usual silence in the face of heavy criticism from the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA).

The proposed changes, which have become the subject of major debate, will come before members during the quarterly meeting in Dubai on January 28 and 29.

"Traditionally, CA does not comment on International Cricket Council (ICC) discussions it is about to have — we talk to other ICC nations across the table rather than via the media," Edwards said.

"But we were today disappointed to see the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations question whether CA and others have met their fiduciary duties as ICC members."

FICA, which represents player associations in seven of the ICC's 10 full member countries, had declared itself "extremely concerned" with the leaked proposal.

Edwards is the first chairman of the three nations tabling the proposal to speak publicly about it.

"Setting aside the fact that we are yet to discuss and vote, CA's approach internationally is consistent with its approach at home where we have made significant strides in improving the governance of Australian cricket," said Edwards.

"There will be a discussion in the next few days among the ICC's full member nations about possible changes to how the ICC works."

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) was due to continue a meeting, by teleconference, yesterday discussing the subject.