Reasons why the BCCI was interested in ousting Tim May

Tim May, the chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA), recently lost his place as one of the two Current Player Representatives on the ICC’s Cricket Committee. The person who replaced him is Laxman Sivaramakrishan, the former India legspinner and now commentator, who was heavily backed by the BCCI. The change has prompted plenty of allegations about the elections – the representatives are chosen through a vote by the 10 Test captains – and the use of undue influence by the BCCI to make certain their man won. May has been a vocal critic of the BCCI’s style of governance and has routinely criticised the various domestic T20 leagues, including the IPL, for paying the players late. [caption id=“attachment_758587” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Tim May (R) with former ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat. Getty[/caption] Now the Times of India alleges that the election was as much about about keeping May out as it was about making sure Sivaramakrishnan was elected. The paper breaks the ways in which May has rubbed the board the wrong way: - Two years ago FICA conducted a survey pointing out that the BCCI exerts unfair influence on the International Cricket Committee’s (ICC) decision making. - May has always been a big supporter of the DRS, while the BCCI has always opposed the system, saying it is not infallible. - FICA has expressed concern that the huge money involved in the IPL and other T20 leagues will eventually force players to choose between money and playing for their country, and the countries would lose. - Before the IPL was shifted from India to South Africa in 2009, FICA requested an independent security assessment of the situation in India and wanted to sit with the BCCI to determine security measures. The BCCI was not impressed with these requests. You can read the full story here.