Cracks in cricket’s foundation: unequal pay, waning loyalty, and early exits
On the latest episode of the Stick to Cricket podcast, a group of cricketing greats—Michael Vaughan, Brian Lara, Alastair Cook, Phil Tufnell, David Lloyd, and Clive Lloyd—launched a stinging critique of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) revenue distribution model. The discussion turned into a wider indictment of modern cricket, its economic inequalities, and the growing erosion of national pride among players.
The former stars highlighted one issue above all: money. Not just how much of it exists at the top level, but how unfairly it’s divided across member boards—an imbalance they believe threatens the future of international cricket.
Vaughan leads the charge: “The pie’s not split right”
Former England captain Michael Vaughan was at the forefront of the criticism, lamenting how the financial imbalance between richer and poorer cricket boards is damaging the global game.
“I think the thing that annoys me most about the game is the pie’s not split right. There’s so much money in the ICC. Seriously, that’s wrong. That is my biggest frustration. If we want to get to a stage—and it might be two tiers of cricket—the only way that’s going to be fair is if the pie’s—I’m not saying it has to be exactly the same—but the likes of the West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Zealand—they’ve got to get more of the pie.”
He linked this disparity to the alarming trend of top talent abandoning international cricket early, citing the case of Nicholas Pooran, who retired at just 29. For Vaughan, the solution is simple: pay players more, and they’ll stay longer.
“So you can pay your players a nicer sum of money that they will stay playing for their country for longer. That’s my biggest bugbear.”
Lara backs Vaughan, but calls out West Indies board
Brian Lara not only echoed Vaughan’s call for more equitable revenue sharing, but also turned his criticism inward, pointing a finger at the West Indies Cricket Board.
“The truth is, I don’t think the West Indies Cricket Board or the administration has done anything meaningful to keep players loyal to West Indies cricket, unlike what boards in countries like England, Australia, or even India have done.”
The most annoying thing about modern day cricket is… 👀 pic.twitter.com/8aDKkqetBQ
— Stick to Cricket (@StickToCricket) July 19, 2025
His comments reflect a broader frustration that many traditional cricketing nations—despite rich histories—lack the financial support needed to retain top-tier talent.
Clive Lloyd, another West Indies legend, summed up his agreement in three succinct words:
“I agree.”
BCCI’s lion’s share under the microscope
The conversation gained added weight in light of a Rediffusion report showing that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) earned over INR 10,000 crore during the 2023–24 financial year. INR 1,042 crore of that came directly from the ICC—more than any other board.
Under the current ICC revenue distribution model for the 2024–2027 cycle:
- India (BCCI) receives 38.5% of total ICC revenue
- England (ECB) gets 6.89%
- Australia (CA) receives 6.25%
- Pakistan (PCB) collects 5.75%
- All other boards—including Bangladesh (4.46%)—get less than 5%
Cook: “Playing for your country isn’t the biggest thing”
Former England opener Alastair Cook offered a candid assessment of cricket’s shifting priorities, expressing concern about the changing mindset among players.
“That playing for your country isn’t the biggest thing.”
His comment triggered strong reactions from the other panelists, all of whom agreed that the rise of franchise cricket and financial inequalities are eroding the significance of national representation.
The bigger picture: A call for structural change
Taken together, the comments from Vaughan, Lara, Cook, and Lloyd paint a clear picture of an international cricket ecosystem under stress. The ICC’s top-heavy revenue model, combined with growing disinterest in international duty among players, could push the sport toward a fragmented, two-tier system.While franchise leagues continue to grow in popularity and profitability, the foundations of international cricket—national teams and bilateral series—appear increasingly fragile. For legends like Vaughan, Lara, and Cook, fixing this begins with one thing: a fairer financial model that gives every cricketing nation a fighting chance.
