Former England captain Michael Vaughan has called for a more equitable distribution of funds by the International Cricket Council (ICC), urging that teams such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, West Indies and New Zealand receive a greater share of the revenue. He argued that narrowing the financial gap between cricket boards is essential for the health and future of international cricket.
Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Vaughan expressed concern that cricket’s finances are not shared fairly among member boards. He was joined by West Indies legend Brian Lara and other former England players including Alastair Cook, David Lloyd, and Phil Tufnell, who also agreed with his viewpoint.
The current revenue-sharing model, approved by the ICC board in July 2023 for the 2024 to 2027 cycle, allocates the largest portion, 38.50 percent, to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) follows with 6.89 percent, Cricket Australia (CA) receives 6.25 percent, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is allotted 5.75 percent. All other member boards receive less than 5 percent each.
Vaughan highlighted that many players are increasingly drawn to franchise T20 leagues worldwide, often at the expense of national duty. This has led to early retirements or players stepping away from central contracts. Recent cases include West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran and South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen.
Reflecting on the frustrations expressed during the podcast, Vaughan remarked: “What bothers me is that the money in cricket isn’t shared properly. The ICC has plenty of funds. Even if a two-tier system is introduced, the fairest approach is to fix how revenue is distributed. I’m not saying every board should get the same amount, but countries like the West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand should receive more. This would enable them to pay their players better and encourage them to stay longer in international cricket.”
Brian Lara and David Lloyd agreed wholeheartedly with Vaughan’s assessment.
While the ICC has not officially disclosed the exact distribution percentages, a 2023 report by ESPNcricinfo revealed the proposed shares for the 2024 to 2027 cycle. Bangladesh Cricket Board is slated to receive 4.46 percent, which translates to over 26.7 million US dollars annually based on an estimated ICC revenue of 600 million dollars.
Other boards receive similar or slightly higher amounts, including Sri Lanka at 4.52 percent, approximately 27.1 million USD, West Indies at 4.58 percent, around 27.5 million USD, New Zealand at 4.73 percent, 28.3 million USD, and South Africa at 4.37 percent, 26.4 million USD. Each of these boards reportedly secured an increase of about one million dollars from earlier proposals during the final approval stage.