Gets approval of 52-member council as world body’s revamped strucuture is put in place
BCCI President-in-exile N Srinivasan on Thursday was formally appointed the first Chairman of the ICC after its 52-member council approved a controversial revamp of the body’s administrative structure.The full council approved the amendments to the ICC’s Memorandum and Articles of Association at the Annual Conference.
As was widely known before the conference, Srinivasan was elected the Chairman despite being barred by the Supreme Court of India from carrying out his duties as BCCI President due to ongoing investigations into the match-fixing allegations relating to the 2013 edition of the IPl.
However, after the Apex court refused to stop his nomination to the ICC position, decks were cleared for his anointment to the newly-created post. The revamp will also hand major executive decision-making authority to the ‘Big Three’ of the game — India, Australia and England.
Srinivasan, who will take over on Monday, congratulated outgoing ICC President Alan Isaac for his contribution. “Mr Isaac has been an inspirational President of the ICC. He provided guidance to everyone during his two-year term and all three international formats remain incredibly popular.The game is unquestionably stronger than it was at the start of his term,” said Srinivasan.
The approval of the constitutional changes, which flowed from an ICC Board resolution taken in Singapore on February 8 and finalised on April 10, also means that a new Executive Committee was formed, which will report to the ICC Board.
The initial Chair of the Executive Committee will be Cricket Australia’s Chairman, Wally Edwards, while the Chair of the ICC’s Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee (F&CA) will continue to be England and Wales Cricket Board’s Chairman, Giles Clarke. The Annual Conference also saw Mustafa Kamal become the 11th President of the ICC.”This is a memorable and historic day for Bangladesh cricket. On this day 14 years ago, Bangladesh became the 10th Test playing country. On Thursday, a Bangladeshi becomes the 11th President of the International Cricket Council. Thank you for bestowing this honour on Bangladesh and me,” said Kamal. “Over the next 12 months, I look forward to working with the ICC Board and ICC Management, and will be delighted to contribute in any way I can. In Mr Srinivasan and David Richardson, I have absolute trust and confidence that we have a combination that will not only strengthen our sport, but will also take this great organisation to a new level.”
From 2016, the ICC Board, which will continue to be the primary decision-making body, will elect the ICC Chairman for a two-year term.
The ICC Board confirmed that the USA Cricket Association (USACA) is the recognised member. The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and ICC management will, however, continue to work with USACA and other interested stakeholders to assist in overcoming some challenges currently facing the governance and development of the game in the USA.
The ICC Board also approved the Development Committee’s recommendation that Oman Cricket (OC) become the 38th Associate Member of the ICC. However,Affiliate Membership of Brunei was suspended, while Tonga was removed as an Affiliate Member. The ICC now has 105 members.
The ICC Board also noted the Associate and Affiliate Members’ decision, which re-elected Imran Khawaja and Neil Speight for another two years as their representatives on the ICC Board, while Keith Oliver was replaced by Francois Erasmus.
Immediately after his appointment to the new post, Srinivasan was asked by the media if he was right choice to run world cricket since India’s Apex court had sidelined him due to investigation into IPl spot-fixing scandal.
“....As far as I’m concerned, I have done nothing wrong. There is no wrongdoing on my part, and therefore my conscience is very clear that there is no taint on me, and whatever investigation is there will take its course will come out, reports will come out,” the BCCI President-in-exile said.But unless I have in my mind any doubt or if I have done anything, then what you say possibly is -- then one has to think. But for what I have not done, I have no concern,” he said.
On being reminded that since his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was facing betting charges, it reflected on him Srinivasan said, “He (Meiyappan) has to defend himself in court. I mean, it’s a question of it’s going to be proved or not proved, but that’s up to him. This is a question about me.” “I think you have to wait until everything is clear at the end of the day. If nothing is proved, I think all this comment would have been unfair, isn’t it.”