Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey

New ICC Chairman Greg Barclay not a fan of the “big 3” concept | Greg Barclay recognises that there is no “big 3” in international cricket

The newly appointed ICC Chairman Greg Barclay has dismissed the idea of the influence that the three countries England, India, and Australia have in the cricket world. “There is no ‘Big 3’ as far as I am concerned. I don’t subscribe to it at all. All members are important and should be treated equally,” Barclay said in a video interaction for ICC.com.

“I do accept concerns of members could be different. I do accept that some of those bigger countries can provide certain outcomes to the ICC along the lines of hosting and revenue so again we need to take that into account and recognise that but there is no ‘Big 3’.”

Barclay, an Auckland-based commercial lawyer has won a run-off with Imran Khwaja after two rounds of voting and he would quit his previous duties as the chairman of the International Rugby league. “The first thing we need to do is get the ICC strategy very clear, so we understand what it is we’re trying to achieve, how that helps global cricket, how it supports members’ interests,” he said to ESPNCricinfo. “We’re through a strategic planning exercise, but it’s been two or three years and we need to get that closed out so it is quite clear what we’re doing. Then we can make some decisions based on our strategy”.

The chairman aims at growing the game in countries where the popularity of the sport is relatively less. “A major reason for doing that is if we want to grow the game, whether it’s in Asia or the Americas, but the USA being the logical place to start,” Barclay said. “Maybe we need to look at hosting a world event, maybe a co-host between the West Indies and the USA. but we do need to have a good look at the outcomes we’re trying to drive here. Those world events are an integral part of decision making.”

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.