THE Federation of Cricketers’ Associations has issued a damning critique of the wide-ranging changes afoot at the International Cricket Council.

FICA, which represents player unions from seven of the ten Testplaying nations, has taken its time to respond to the proposals voted through by the ICC board in Singapore on Saturday, but the response is unequivocal.

The ICC board agreed a new set of measures that will concentrate significant new powers in the governing bodies of India, England and Australia, profoundly alter the distribution of funds and abandon the centralised future tours programme.

Each of those proposals drew criticism from some observers of the game, and FICA is equally unimpressed by the implications.

FICA executve chairman Paul Marsh said: ‘‘This is a very sad day for our game. Whilst unfortunately the final outcome had an air of inevitability about it once the process became clear, it again highlights how poorly our game is governed.

‘‘Of extreme concern to all involved in FICA is the fact that so many key stakeholders in the game condemned the proposed changes, including players past and present; former ICC office bearers; Transparency International – the body set up to fight global corruption; Lord Woolf – the man responsible for independently reviewing the ICC’s governance; numerous media commentators as well as cricket fans worldwide, yet the ICC Board still approved these changes.

‘‘This should be an indicator to the future for all of us, where selfinterest and short-term deal making will override the long-term health of the game and views of its key stakeholders.

‘‘FICA and its members will continue to oppose these changes in the interests of the game’s future.’’

  • Gloucestershire spinner Jack Taylor is available to bowl again after the ECB cleared his action.

    Taylor, 22, was suspended from bowling in May 2013 after concerns over the legality of his action but passed a reassessment last week.

A statement read: ‘‘ECB today confirmed that Jack Taylor’s suspension from bowling for England and in competitive county cricket has been lifted with immediate effect.

This follows a reassessment as permitted within the ECB regulations that was carried out on 4 February 2014. This was subsequent to a period of remedial work undertaken by Jack Taylor on his bowling action.’’