Letter to WICB – 31.10.2014
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THE BOARD OF CONTROL FOR CRICKET IN INDIA Holkar Stadium Khel Prashal, Race Course Road, Indore - 452 003. INDIA. PHONE : 0731-2540029 / 2543606 FAX • 0731-2543006 E-mail [email protected] SANJAY PATEL [email protected] HONORARY SECRETARY Ifonorag Secretary's Office Date: 31 st October 2014 To West Indies Cricket Board Inc. P.O. Box 616 W, St. John's, Antigua, West Indies Tel : 268-481-2450 Fax : 268-481-2498 Email: [email protected] Kind Attn: Mr. Whycliffe Cameron (President) Dear Mr. Cameron, Re: Memorandum of Understanding entered into between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the West Indies Cricket Board relating to the scheduled 2014 West Indies' Tour of India; Re: Unilateral cancellation of the tour by the West Indies Cricket Board, repercussions thereof and claim for compensation by the Board of Control for Cricket in India This has reference to the captioned 2014 West Indies' Tour of India ("Tour"). As you are aware, the Board of Control for Cricket in India was in discussions with you for well over a year for the purpose of agreeing a mutually acceptable schedule of matches to be played in India by the West Indies cricket team. Such discussions finally culminated in the Memorandum of Understanding dated 1 st August 2014 ("MOU"). The West Indies Cricket Board ("WICB") gave the BCCI a binding commitment that it will field its team in India for a total of 9 Matches being 5 ODI Matches, 1 T20 Match and 3 Test Matches to be played in that order. On the eve of the first ODI in Kochi on 8th October 2014, you intimated the BCCI that, on account of some disputes between you and your players, the WICB was considering pulling out of the Tour. On account of the timely intervention of the Hon. Secretary BCCI, who spoke to your players, a 6 Headquarters : Cricket Centre, Wankhede Stadium, 'D' Road, Churchgate, Mumbai - 400 020. Ph:)ne :091-22-6759 8800 / 2289 8800 Fax : 091-22-6759 8801 E-mail : [email protected] , [email protected] THE BOARD OF CONTROL FOR CRICKET IN INDIA LVP Banquets & Conventions Lukshmi Villas Palace J N Marg. Vadodara 390 001.Gujarat INDIA Phone +91 85111 16604/05 +91 93746 39577 . +91 98255 67444 FAX +91 26523 36738 Mobile . +91 99206 93789 SANJAY PATEL E-mail • sanjay [email protected] HONORARY SECRETARY honorary Secretary's Office crisis was averted. However, the threat of cancellation of the Tour continued to be raised prior to each of the next three ODIs where again due to intervention of high-ranking BCCI Officials, your team took the field and the matches took place. Finally, after the fourth ODI at Dharamshala on 17th October 2014, you pulled out your team and communicated your decision to cancel the remainder of the Tour. The WICB is more than aware of the economics of the sport of cricket; that each National Board is dependent on its Home Tours to generate income. This is a financial model that is common to all National Boards including the WICB. Such income is derived from various sources including sponsorships and broadcast rights. The adverse financial ramifications and the negative impact of your action to unilaterally cancel the remainder of the Tour was well within your understanding, yet you still went ahead and cancelled the Tour in complete disregard of your legal commitments. The WICB is also aware that each National Board is committed to touring each other in a given period such that the schedule of tours between each of the Boards is fixed 8 years in advance. Such touring obligations are on a reciprocal basis so as to reflect not only fairness in ranking but also equal opportunity to each Board. As such, given the limited windows of opportunity and the long-term schedule of tours as between the National Cricket Boards, rescheduling of Tours within the 8-year period becomes impossible. As you are aware, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board has agreed to our last minute request to play 5 ODIs in India in the month of November 2014. However, this does not offset the financial loss suffered by BCCI on account of the cancellation of the WICB Tour. This is because the Sri Lanka Cricket Board has not committed to any additional tour of India but has only advanced its 2015 Tour to 2014. In return, the BCCI has agreed to tour Sri Lanka in 2015 whereby it has permanently and irretrievably lost a valuable home tour. The consequences on the BCCI of not delivering a scheduled home tour to its members, sponsors, broadcasters and the fans are multifold and crippling. The BCCI is faced with huge revenue losses, a loss of reputation and is at risk of losing valuable commercial partners. The consequences of cancellation of a committed home Tour during the biggest festival season Headquarters : Cricket Centre, Wankhede Stadium, `D' Road, Churchgate, Murnbai - 400 020. Phone 091-22-6759 8800 / 2289 8800 Fax 091-22-6759 8801 E-mail [email protected] THE BOARD OF CONTROL FOR CRICKET IN INDIA LVP Banquets & Conventions Lukshmi Villas Palace J N Marg. Vadodara 390 001,Gujarat INDIA Phone +91 85111 16604/05 : +91 93746 39577 : +91 98255 67444 FAX +91 26523 36738 Mobile +91 99206 93789 SANJAY PATEL E-mail sanjay patel©bcci.tv HONORARY SECRETARY honorary Secretary's Office Diwali in India is a monumental disaster for the BCCI. It is during this season that our partners derive the most value from their rights. Our broadcaster had committed to its advertisers during this season and on account of your actions, is facing a severe crisis the effects of which are felt by the BCCI. The BCCI holds the WICB responsible and liable for all such consequences and intends to enforce its ri ghts to seek compensation from the WICB to the fullest extent permissible in law. In plain economic terms, the BCCI can tentatively quantify its losses as follows; Amount in INR(Crores) and Details USD Million Revenue Loss Media Rights Fee - Star India 216.00 Title Sponsorship - Micromax 10.01 Team Sponsorship - Star India 9.60 Kit Sponsorship - Nike 3.05 Ticket Revenue g Rs. 2.5 Crs per match (estimated) 12.50 Instadia Sponsorship @ Rs. 1.5 Crs per match (estimated) 7.50 Pouring / Concessionaire @ Rs. 5I, per match (estimated) 0.25 Total INR 258.91 Crores USD 41.97 Million Please note that the above quantification is tentative and constitutes an approximation of the losses that I3CCI is able to quantify at this time. The BCCI is in the process of assessing its other heads of losses including without limitation towards expenses incurred against organization of the remaining 5 matches of the WICB Tour. Once quantified, the same will be intimated to the WICB. The BCCI calls upon the WICB to formally inform the BCCI, in writing, of the steps it intends to take to compensate the BCCI towards the losses quantified above as well as those losses yet to be quantified by the BCCI in ).-'- 5 Headquarters : Cricket Centre, Wankhede Stadium, D' Road. Churchgate, Murnbar - 400 020. Phone 091-22-6759 8800 / 2289 8800 Fax :091-22-6759 8801 E-mail [email protected] THE BOARD OF CONTROL FOR CRICKET IN INDIA LVP Banquets & Conventions Lukshmi Villas Palace J N Marg, Vadodara 390 001,Gujarat INDIA Phone +91 85111 16604/05 : +91 93746 39577 . +91 98255 67444 FAX +91 26523 36738 Mobile +91 99206 93789 SANJAY PATEL E-mail : sanjay [email protected] HONORARY SECRETARY Yfonorary Secretary's Office relation to the cancelled WICB Tour. In the event the BCCI does not receive such a proposal in acceptable terms, within a period of 15 days from receipt of this letter, please note that the BCCI has peremptorily instructed its attorneys to initiate steps for recovery of the losses by filing appropriate legal proceedings against the WICB in the appropriate Indian Court and you may treat this notice as a formal demand in that regard. Pending resolutions of all disputes the BCCI suspends all bilateral cricketing relations with the W1CB. Yours faithfully, For the Board of Control for Cricket in India Sanjay Patel Hon. Secretary, BCCI Headquarters : Cricket Centre, Wankhede Stadium, 'D' Road, Churchgate, Mumbai - 400 020. Phone : 091-22-6759 8800 / 2289 8800 Fax : 091-22-6759 8801 E-mail [email protected].