Manohar steps down as ICC chief

Dubai, March 15 (IANS) Shashank Manohar has stepped down as Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) citing personal reasons.

Manohar's decision comes after only eight months in office. The 59-year-old was elected unopposed as the ICC's first independent chairman last year. His two-year term was to end in May 2018.

The former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President sent a copy of his resignation letter to ICC CEO Dave Richardson on Wednesday.

"I have tried to do my best and have tried to be fair and impartial in deciding matters in the functioning of the board and in matters related to member boards along with the able support of all directors.

"However, for personal reasons it is not possible for me to hold the august office of ICC chairman and hence I am tendering my resignation as chairman with immediate effect," Manohar said in the letter.

"I take this opportunity to thank all the directors, the management and staff of ICC for supporting me wholeheartedly. I wish the ICC all the very best and hope it achieves greater heights in future."

The ICC confirmed that it has received Manohar's resignation, adding that a replacement will be announced shortly.

"The ICC has confirmed it has received an email from Chairman Shashank Manohar tendering his resignation. The ICC Board will assess the situation and next steps before making a further announcement," the ICC said in a statement on Wednesday.

The first ICC chief not affiliated to any of its member boards, Manohar took over the post from N. Srinivasan in May last year after giving up his position of BCCI president.

Since then, he has tried to curb the disproportionate amount of power wielded by the BCCI, Cricket Australia (CA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The ICC had passed in principle a new constitution last month that corrected some of the imbalance in influence and financial power of the BCCI, CA and ECB.

A final call on the new constitution was to be taken at the next round of meetings by the ICC boards next month.

Manohar has served as BCCI president twice. He first became BCCI chief in 2008 and left the post in 2011. Following the death of Jagmohan Dalmiya, he was re-elected as BCCI president in october 2015.