ICC to elect independent chairman through secret ballot in May

Dubai, April 26 (IANS) The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided that its chairman will be an independent one, who will be elected by a secret ballot in May and will not be allowed to hold any national or provincial position with any member board.

“Following on from the February 2016 meeting decision to urgently re-establish the ‘independent’ position of ICC chairman, the board agreed that the election of the ICC chairman by the board will be held through a secret ballot in late May after all constitutional amendments have been approved by the full council in the coming weeks,” ICC said in a release on Monday.

Currently, Shashank Manohar is the ICC chairman as well as the president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“The election process will be overseen by the ICC’s independent Audit Committee chairman and all present and past ICC directors will be eligible to contest the election.

"However, candidates can only be nominated by a fellow ICC director who, in turn, will be allowed to provide no more than one nominee. Any nominee with the support of at least two full member ICC directors will be put forward as a candidate for election,” the release said.

“The elected independent chairman will not be allowed to hold any national or provincial position with any member board,” it stated.

It was also announced that a number of day/night Tests were being considered for the forthcoming year.

“Members confirmed their support for day-night Tests and it was noted that a number of day/night Tests were being considered for the forthcoming year. It was reiterated that administrators must embrace innovation and understand the demands and expectations of the spectators and fans, keeping alive and growing interest in the traditional format of the game,” ICC said.

The cricket governing body also took a step closer towards potential participation in the Olympics and/or Commonwealth Games.

“On cricket’s potential participation in the Olympics and/or Commonwealth Games, the ICC Board received an update from the management and agreed that further discussions were required with the Members and the other stakeholders, including the IOC and Commonwealth Games Federation before a final position could be adopted,” the release said.