The BCCI have failed to submit their squad to the ICC for the upcoming Champions Trophy by the April 25 deadline.

A BCCI official cited scheduling differences as the reason for the deadline date not being met. Given that BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhury and CEO Rahul Johri are attending ICC meetings, and captain Virat Kohli is participating in the ongoing IPL, a meeting to determine the final squad could not take place.

‘We have told the ICC the reason behind the delay,’ the official told ESPNcricinfo. ‘We have told them we will announce it soon.’

Speculation is circulating that it is, in fact, a revenue dispute that is the cause. A restructuring of the ‘big-three’ revenue model sees India’s revenue for the tournament cut from $570-million to $290-million.

India, it appears, are trying to pressure the ICC into restructuring the revenue model more favourably. The ICC shouldn’t be too concerned just yet though, as a threat to withdraw from the tournament has to be in writing. Furthermore, the two BCCI officials do not hold the power to back out of the Members Participation Agreement. This power lies with the Committee of Administrators.

‘To pull out, you have to revoke the MPA, which is a legal document,’ the board official said. ‘All the legal authority sits with the COA. The office bearers will need to consult the COA. You can make a threat, but you have to follow it up with a letter to become a reality. Then if the COA approves, then it will direct Johri, who is the only one authorised to sign such a letter.’

The April 25 deadline is merely a guideline. In the past the ICC has given national cricket boards extensions of a day or two if it deems it necessary to finalise its squad. The BCCI have not made such a request.

Photo: AFP photo/ Manjunath Kiran/Cricinfo