However, Cricket West Indies CEO Chris Dehring has criticised the revenue model for bilateral cricket that allows the host country to retain 100 per cent of a series’ earnings.
He cited the ongoing white-ball series against India, from which his nation would “get nothing” out of the expected USD 20 million to USD 30 million (Rs 193-285 crore) in returns. Any cricket series involving India is a money-spinner. Without a doubt, the Indian cricket team has the largest following across the world, thanks to the Indian diaspora.
Any cricket series involving India is a money-spinner. Without a doubt, the Indian cricket team has the largest following across the world, thanks to the Indian diaspora
Speaking to Wisden’s ‘The Scoop’, Dehring said the model adopted in 1997 essentially triggered the demise of the game in the Caribbean. A series that could generate USD 20 million to USD 30 million in India brings West Indies cricket no revenue,” Dehring said. “It (the 1997 decision) was palpably unfair.
Because the series is being played in India, “West Indies cricket receives nothing in this case,. Because it took away our main source of income,” Dehring said, at the time, I said that this decision had effectively signed the demise of West Indies cricket.
Dehring said CWI was outvoted on the ICC board at the time, causing lasting damage to the game in the Caribbean islands. “Until then, West Indies was a very attractive team, and everybody wanted us to tour. We would receive a touring fee, which was often worth more than we could earn by hosting a series in the Caribbean,” he recalled. From being a robust cricketing powerhouse, the West Indies have declined across formats. CWI has also faced repeated financial crises and player dissatisfaction over wages, leading to revolts and a growing trend of T20 freelancers in the region. We were outvoted nine to one by the ICC member countries.
