Andrew Alderson: Does ICC need to pull its head out of Dubai sand?

Opinion

International cricket needs an injection of realism to find better solutions to problems currently riddling the sport.

This thought follows the media conference celebrating the 'Catch The Spirit' campaign of the International Cricket Council.

President David Morgan and chief executive Haroon Lorgat came to the table seemingly only willing to talk about the wonders of a 'Century of Cricket', given one prong of the campaign is to promote the longevity of the ICC.

In cricketing parlance, it was frustrating to see sincere questions on the sport's future edged through slips rather than dead-batted confidently back to assembled media.

Perhaps it came as a surprise they were bombarded about issues surrounding the game rather than sycophancy on its past.

Morgan produced a Pollyanna response to suggestions the game might be somehow affected by adverse forces, saying "I don't think that's the case at all, cricket has never been in greater health."

Really?

Morgan referred to, but didn't elaborate on, "some challenges". Money in the coffers to beat a recession is one thing. But where is the considered thought on security policy in the wake of the Lahore attacks and the impact this will have on the 2011 World Cup, when Pakistan is one of four hosts on the Subcontinent.

The ICC president also spun over the issue of safety being a core reason for the shifting of the Indian Premier League, blaming the decision vaguely on "the Indian elections".

The choreographed responses kept coming. Take Lorgat's contribution on anti-corruption: "We can never take our eye off the ball, we can never become complacent in that area."

No explanation, no elaboration.

Then there was their position on whether Pakistan will be a future host.

"Scenarios change and there's no reason to think we won't be back one day in the future," said Lorgat.

When probed for further timeframe details on a topic you would assume has occupied plenty of agenda space in recent weeks, Lorgat opted for a clause containing the phrase "crystal ball."

Morgan waded back in with a truism on the future of the test game.

"We believe it is a vitally important part of our portfolio and we are certain from our consultation with the cricketers that it is test matches promising players aspire to play."

And he hardly gave cause for innovative thinking on quickening over rates.

"We are serious about it and recognise over rates are extremely important." Other topics such as the so-called 'rebel' Indian Cricket League were given the brush-off to avoid potential "litigation".

Talk the Indian board's power at the ICC might mean some members are more equal than others was also politically padded up to by Morgan.

"The controllers of world cricket are the 13 members of the executive board of the ICC," he said.

The ICC needs to consider how it disseminates its thinking on the game to the public.

You have to appreciate they deal with a complicated mix of bureaucracy, cultural differences, national interests and often have to concede direct action to allow compromise.

But if someone such as Jacques Rogge can keep a steady hand as president of the International Olympic Committee by pre-empting, divulging and embracing issues, surely it's possible with cricket.