Shashank Manohar resigns as ICC president after two terms

Shashank Manohar became the head of the ICC, nominated by the BCCI, in November 2015. (Source: File photo)

When Shashank Manohar stepped down as president of the International Cricket Council on Wednesday, hectic parliaments are expected at different cricket tables in the coming weeks, with the intention of nominating his successor. The ICC Annual Conference, scheduled for mid-July, is known to have been postponed indefinitely due to Covid-19. Manohar’s second two-year term would have come to an end on the Full Council. The chief administrator, who became the first independent ICC president in 2016, had already announced that he would not seek a third term.

The ICC statement said Vice President Imran Khwaja “will assume the responsibilities of the president until a successor is chosen.” The Board agreed to the ad-hoc agreement when it met today. The president of the ICC is generally elected to the Full Council, but now that it is postponed, it is necessary to see what timeline the global gaming body presents. “The process for the election of the President is expected to be approved by the ICC Board within the next week,” said the ICC.

With the COVID-induced economic crisis looming on the horizon, most cricket tables need BCCI support, especially in terms of playing bilateral series, like a bailout. BCCI is ready to provide leadership. However, this document understands that the Indian board has not yet made a decision on whether to nominate someone from its fold or endorse a consensus candidate.

Returning to Manohar, he became the chief of the ICC, nominated by the BCCI, in November 2015 after the Indian junta withdrew N Srinivasan and replaced him with the first. Next year, Manohar resigned from the BCCI presidency to become the first independent president of the ICC. However, after only eight months in office, he resigned but eventually retired. During his tenure, the ICC dismantled the Big Three model to adopt a more equitable income distribution system. “There is no doubt that cricket owes Shashank a debt of gratitude for all he has done for the sport,” said Khwaja, vice president of the ICC.