India cricket boss exposes rift in 'bullying' Big Three

ICC Executive Board Member Shashank Manohar. Photo / Getty Images

The Big Three have only been in business just a few months and already there are signs of a rift.

But if you think it's come in words from an English or Australian accent you'd be wrong.

India's board of control president Shashank Manohar is also chairman of the International Cricket Council.

Maybe conscious of his two hats, he has criticised the imbalance in the game, where three countries call the shots. A constitutional change last year handed authority to those three countries along with a hefty chunk of revenue.

But now Manohar, who has replaced the controversial N. Srinivasan, has called the revamp "bullying" and hopes to rectify faults in the arrangement during his time in the ICC chair, which ends next June.

"I don't agree with the three major countries bullying the ICC," Manohar said in an interview with the Hindu newspaper. "That's my personal view because, as I have always said, an institution is bigger than individuals.

"You cannot guarantee which individual will occupy the top position in either of these countries. And, the ICC constitution, as it stands today, says that in all the major committees of the ICC, these three countries will be automatically there.

"So all the financial and commercial aspects and the executive committee will be controlled by the representatives of these three countries, which according to me is wrong."

Call this a breath of fresh air - a significant break in the commentary from the Big Three thus far.

Quite how respected lawyer Manohar's remarks will be received by his colleagues from England and Australia, not to mention on his door step, remains to be seen.

But those who were appalled at the power grab will be delighted.

Part of the deal ensured that, while the Board of Control for India boss became ICC chairman, the Cricket Australia chairman would head the executive committee and the England and Wales Cricket Board head would lead the Finance and Commercial Affairs department.

Talk about a carve up. It left the Big Three with all the authority.

Guarantees were made to the other nations to ensure it went ahead.

Manohar was on the front foot.

"I don't agree with the revenue-sharing formula, because it's nice to say that India will get 22 per cent of the total revenue of the ICC, but you cannot make the poor poorer and the rich richer only because you have the clout. The ICC runs cricket throughout the world."

A right hook to follow a straight left jab.

Manohar rounded it off by claiming Giles Clarke, the England head, agreed with his sentiments.

What follows from here is anyone's guess. Maybe nothing. Maybe some will quietly lead him into a corner and spell out the new order. But if you're feeling you're at the beck and call, or the whims of the Big Three, you'd fancy having a quiet chuckle.

The revolution might have unravelled a knot or two.