The International Cricket Council Executive Board teleconference yet again remained inconclusive0.
For the third consecutive time the directors have not been able to arrive at a consensus on the crucial issue of the election of the ICC Independent Chair and the T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia as the teleconference today (Thursday) remained inconclusive.
Cricket world was expecting a call on the date and process for election to find the successor of Shashank Manohar, whose second term as the ICC Independent Chair will be over next month. Strangely enough, for the third consecutive virtual meeting the executive has failed to arrive at a consensus.
There has been a good decision on the subject of election, which is expected to be finalised in a week’s time.
The first teleconference on May 28 had ended after an aggressive debate on the issue of sanctity and confidentiality of the ICC matters. The key issues of the election process and the World Cup could not even come up for discussion. The matters were deferred to June 10, while it was decided to constitute an inquiry on burning issue of confidentiality.
Even in the second meeting there was no significant development on the election and the T20 World Cup subjects, while a committee was constituted to address the issue confidentiality and sanctity.
Since, the time is running out for finding the replacement for Manohar, the Executive Board was expected to at least confirm the process and dates for the election. Nothing much has changed since the first meeting on May 28.
SportzFront has learnt that ICC does not even has much to even make a formal announcement following the meeting today.
England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves is the sole confirmed name to contest for the apex ICC office. Speculation is also rife about Sourav Ganguly throwing his hat in the ring, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India president has kept the cards close to his chest.
Manohar despite being eligible will not seek another term, while Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ehsan Mani had turned down the request from several board’s to return to the ICC apex chair.
Pressure is also mounting on the ICC to decide about the T20 World Cup in Australia, as the international boards are desperate to plan their domestic events and reschedule the series which have been cancelled due to the novel coronavirus spread. It was expected that the board will take an in principle call to confirm the postponement of the World Cup, while deferring a verdict on the next dates and schedule. That item on the agenda also remains undecided.
The meeting today was primarily focused around administrative issues.