ICC is not just a money making machine: Ehsan Mani

New Delhi, July 5 (UNI) Contrary to popular perceptions, ICC is not just a money making machine and every penny earned by the body goes back into the game, asserted its outgoing President Ehsan Mani.

Mr Mani, whose term ends this week, told Cricinfo magazine that ICC maybe a profit-making body, but it's certainly not profit-driven.

''The ICC does raise money from its events and it's very important to do so. I don't know whether people realise but when they hear that we have done a deal for 500-600 million dollar from sponsors, every penny of that is invested back into the game. The ICC doesn't hang onto any of it. We distribute it either back to our members directly or through our development programmes.

''Since I've been involved in the ICC, we've spent over 100 million dollar on the development of the game in associate and affiliated member countries... it sounds like a lot of money but when you see that there are 86 non-Test playing countries whose main source of financial support is through the ICC, divide 100 million by 86 and then by the 8-year cycle we run, it's not much. So I make no apologies for trying to make ICC commercial,'' he said.

''What is important is that we make it efficient not only in raising money properly but also directing it properly,'' the ICC chief added.

In the freewheeling interview, Mr Mani also allayed fears that technology would render the umpires redundant.

''I don't believe umpires will ever get redundant if you look at the use of technology as a way of assisting umpires rather than working against them or undermining them in any way...when you and I sit at home and watch the game on TV, if the broadcaster is able to use technology to show whether the umpire's decision was right or wrong, I believe that undermines the umpire more. It's far better that we try and use the same technology and see if we can assist the umpire,'' he explained.

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