ICC probes company registrations amid fears of split

(MENAFN- Arab News) NEW DELHI: The ICC confirmed it was investigating the registration of company names which it regarded as of 'concern to the sport of cricket' as reports of a rebel organization which might split the game continued to emerge on Friday.
The Guardian newspaper reported last weekend that Indian media conglomerate the Essel Group had attempted to register the company name 'Australian Cricket Control Pty Ltd' and had made similar efforts in other cricket-playing nations.
Owned by billionaire Subhash Chandra the driving force behind the ill-fated rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) Essel issued a statement on Monday saying they were 'geared up to enter the sports business at a global level focusing on cricket.'
'The ICC is aware of certain recent registrations which are of concern to the sport of cricket and the matter is under investigation' an International Cricket Council spokesman said on Friday.
Whether it is merely an international Twenty20 league or a full scale assault on the ICC's governance of the game it is clear some challenge to cricket's status quo is afoot.
Cricket Australia on Friday dismissed as 'highly speculative' media reports that Michael Clarke and David Warner would be offered $40 million 10-year contracts to play in a rebel league.
A report in Thursday's Hindustan Times said Essel which through its Ten Sports channel owns rights to cricket around the world but not in India had registered 15 city-based leagues in India.
'We have a massive plan for cricket in India and groundwork has been going on in many states' Naresh Dhoundiyal a senior Essel Group official told the newspaper.
'I can't give you details of the project as it is going to be made public in the next six months.'
Lalit Modi who helped set up the lucrative IPL Twenty20 league before falling out with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said he had been approached by Chandra to get involved in a plan to set up a new global governing body but had turned him down.
'Subhash is a powerful body no doubt but it is a foolish plan at the moment' he said in an interview with the Guardian on Thursday.
'But he does what he wants and I wish him all the luck. It could be very close who knows? If he presses the button and puts the money on the table things could start very quickly. The ICC should be fearing him.'

Speculative

Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards says moves to establish a rebel league featuring the world's top players would threaten the structure of the game in Australia though he describes reports of the league as 'highly speculative.'
Fairfax Media quoted unnamed sources Friday as saying Australia captain Michael Clarke and leading batsman David Warner will be offered $50 million contracts to join the league which is being promoted by Indian billionaire Subhash Chandra.
Chandra's Essel Group is reported to have registered company names in most test-playing nations in preparation for what is said to be a move to sign the world's top players. His intention is reportedly to establish a global Twenty20 league as a step toward seizing control of world cricket from its governing body the ICC.
'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 television audiences grassroots participation and commercial support continue to drive record revenue which means player payments have never been higher and will only increase.'
While he believes CA is well placed to provide counter-offers to any forthcoming from a rebel league he was concerned at the potential emergence of a competition that would harvest the top players without supporting the grassroots.
'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 in today's media reports.