JOHANNESBURG: Players unions fear the International Cricket Council's existing structure can't be trusted to make independent and impartial decisions for the good of the modern global game due to the influence of India and its massive financial clout.

So the game historically associated with concepts of civility and fair play, of chivalry and honor, is now far removed from those values, with billions of dollars in television money and commercial deals at stake, India and its huge audience and market holding the key to the money, and the ICC and the majority of its 10 main member countries unwilling to shake that up.

The recent disputed vote that resulted in an Indian candidate winning a place on one of the ICC's committees was just the catalyst that sparked outspoken and biting criticism of the ICC from the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations and exposed the long-held frustrations and deep divisions in the world game.

However, it's still doubtful that it will have any effect on addressing the perceived inequalities, international players group FICA told The Associated Press, because cricket's governing body is not ready to change.

Any hopes that Indian Laxman Sivaramakrishnan's “questionable” victory over Australian Tim May in an election of the 10 Test captains was the final straw, a landmark moment that would force the ICC to reform and follow recommendations made over a year ago for a more level playing field are likely misplaced, according to the player representatives.

“If history is anything to go by, (the ICC) will choose to do nothing of substance,” FICA legal adviser Ian Smith told The AP in email correspondence.

FICA - which represents players from seven of cricket's 10 major countries, but not India - has demanded that the governing body investigates former India international Sivaramakrishnan's victory over May for a place as a player representative on the ICC's Cricket Committee amid allegations of vote fixing.

Indirectly, FICA and some of its member players associations are challenging what they believe to be the ICC bowing down to India's national board, the Board of Control for Cricket in India - by far its richest and most powerful member.

“This matter is symptomatic of a bigger picture of how many things work in international cricket. People are bullied into decisions which favor certain agendas,” South African Cricketers' Association chief executive Tony Irish said.

Australian Cricketers' Association chief executive Paul Marsh said: “The ICC sit back and allow these things to occur. They can't see past the tours, the revenue streams ... Decisions continue to be made that 'if we upset the BCCI, we might interrupt that revenue stream'.”

Smith says FICA possesses and has seen evidence that presented “a compelling picture” that the ICC vote was flawed, adding that players were pressured to choose India's preferred candidate because of the influence of the BCCI. Some of that evidence had been shown to the ICC, he said, which is considering whether to refer the vote to an ethics officer.

The ICC has denied there is any evidence of wrongdoing in the vote and said that despite what it called initial “confusion” over the process that led to a re-vote, Sivaramakrishnan was elected fairly and according to its procedures.

The Test captains of England, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand backed May in the vote, Australian players' representative Marsh said. That leaves five countries - Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, West Indies and Zimbabwe - open to influence from India, FICA has suggested.

Yet despite its strong and surprisingly outspoken stance and the obvious divisions being uncovered in international cricket, FICA's is a lone voice against India's dominating influence. The BCCI has not responded to telephone and email requests for interviews or comment, but has been upset by FICA's allegations according to the Indian media - to the point where it had to come out publicly and deny rumors it was threating a boycott of the Champions Trophy in England next month.

Cricket's real problems lie in the fact that none of the countries who are apparently coerced will speak out, the players union says, fearing they will be ostracized by the powerful BCCI and miss out on cricket's biggest paydays; games against India's hugely popular and money-spinning national team.

Even countries that oppose India are reluctant to make their opposition public. The Associated Press attempted to contact each Test captain or board to determine - on the record - how they voted in the ICC cricket committee election, but the response was muted.

Crucially, and aside from the allegations of unfair influence, or even the murky world of vote lobbying, it is also possible that some countries continue to back India out of choice and for their own agendas.

“We were not influenced by anybody (in the ICC vote),” Sri Lanka cricket board acting chief executive Ashley de Silva said.

“There is a lot of speculation going on about it.”