Former India international and current broadcaster Ravi Shastri has supported the idea that India deserve more than their current share of ICC revenue.
'Only fair that India get their pound of flesh'
The distribution of ICC event revenues to each nation through the 2024-27 cycle has been criticised for how skewed the model is. Over 88 per cent of the revenue goes to the 12 Test-playing nations, with 48.2 per cent going to the 'Big Three' of India, England and Australia. India take by far the largest piece of the pie, at 38.5 per cent.
On the Wisden Cricket Weekly Podcast, Shastri said the revenue share agreement was more than fair: “I would want more [for India]. Because half the money – most of the money – that's generated comes from India. So it's only fair that they get their share of... pound of flesh. And it's relative, you know, it's economies.
“Tomorrow there might be another economy that's stronger. Money might come from there like it did in the seventies, eighties. And the chunk of the money went to... you know, went somewhere else.
“So I think it's only fair and it just shows in the revenues. When India travel, look at the television rights, look at the television, income that comes, for an India series. So it's only fair that they get whatever they're getting now, if not more.”
A similar sentiment was shared by ECB CEO Richard Gould when the revenue-share model was devised in 2023: “India play as many international fixtures as any other team in the world. And they do that because they know when they tour as an international team, they bring interest and revenue to that home side. I think it's important to see things in the round, in that regard.”
A similar sentiment was shared be ECB chair Richard Thompson, speaking to The Athletic: “India generate the bulk of the game’s wealth and they would be entitled to take more revenue than they do. They take probably 10 per cent less than they justifiably could.”
Shastri: Don't think a central Test fund is needed
Shastri, whose name now proudly adorns a suite at Lord's, unveiled during the World Test Championship final, also expressed his opposition to a central Test fund being set up by the ICC to help maintain the health of the format. “No. I don't think it's needed,” he said.
“Why do you need it? You know, from what is coming now and what the share is, there could be a certain amount of money kept for those countries to promote the game.
“There will be central support and it can come through this [fund], but you also have to question, why are cricket boards losing money hand over fist? Is the administration okay? Are they being handled properly? Is the game being run properly? And is there accountability? For me, that is the key. Is there accountability when there's money being paid?”
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