Manohar elected ICC chairman

NEW DELHI — Former Indian cricket supremo Shashank Manohar became the first elected chairman of the International Cricket Council Thursday, unanimously chosen by his peers to lead the game’s world governing body. “It is an honor to be elected as the chairman of the International Cricket Council and for that I am thankful to all the ICC directors who have put their faith and trust in my abilities,” Manohar said in a statement after the election at a meeting in Dubai. “I look forward to working with all stakeholders to shape the future of cricket, which has a proud history and rich tradition.” Manohar had been serving as head of the ICC in his role as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in line with the organization’s previous system of revolving chairmanships. But under reforms that he himself had championed, the ICC has amended its constitution to bring in direct elections for the position which will now be officially an independent post. The 58-year-old Manohar had resigned as BCCI president Tuesday in a move that freed him up to run for the ICC chairmanship, and his election had been widely predicted. In its statement, the ICC said Manohar had been the sole nominee for the position and was “unanimously elected” for a two-year term. Under the new reforms, the largely ceremonial position of ICC president has now been scrapped. Manohar, who is a successful lawyer, had only taken over as BCCI president in October 2015 when he returned for a second stint in the position after the death of veteran administrator Jagmohan Dalmiya. But he became frustrated after coming under pressure to introduce reforms to the BCCI’s governance recommended by a panel convened by the Supreme Court, including age limits for the organization’s office-holders. In an interview published after his resignation from the BCCI, Manohar said it was important to avoid “a conflict of interest.” “As BCCI’s nominee, am I not duty-bound to fight for our cause? On the other hand, as ICC chairman, I am expected to protect its interests,” he told The Times of India. “That’s why I have proposed that the post of the ICC chairman should be made independent and it has been accepted unanimously.” Manohar has been critical of recent ICC rule changes designed to give greater power to India, England and Australia, saying the game’s three most powerful countries appeared to be “bullying” the organization. The veteran Indian sports journalist Ayaz Memon said that Manohar should now be freer to push for reforms without having to look over his shoulder. “It’s a positive move in a way that now the chairman will not be linked to a particular board, therefore that nexus is not seen as something which is unhealthy,” Memon told AFP. “Having an independent chairman is a better situation than when a chairman is president of a board.” “These are exciting times for international cricket as we are presently carrying out a comprehensive review of the 2014 constitutional amendments which is aimed at not only improving governance structures, but cricket structures as well,” Manohar said Thursday. “The ultimate objective is to grow our sport and engage a whole new generation of fans and I look forward to working with all stakeholders to shape the future of cricket, which has a proud history and rich tradition.” — Agencies