The international governing body for cricket will review its entire constitution and appoint an independent chair to improve its governance in a “transparent manner”.
Meeting on 3 February in Dubai, the International Cricket Council (ICC) agreed to appoint a chair with a two-year post at its June 2016 board meeting. The incumbent will not be allowed to hold any post with a national member board during their tenure.
The chair will be elected through a secret ballot process overseen by the ICC’s Audit Committee Chair. To qualify for election, each candidate must be an ICC board director and have the support of at least two member directors.
In addition, all members of the ICC have been asked to provide feedback on making the governance, finance, corporate and cricketing structures “appropriate and effective” for everyone.
A proposal for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), as well as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket Australia (CA), to be removed from their permanent positions on the Finance & Commercial Affairs Committee and Executive Committee was put forward, to “allow fair access” and make the sole criteria for election “skill, competence and experience”.
The ECB declined to comment on the proposed changes to the structure.
“Decisions taken clearly reflect that we collectively want to improve the governance in a transparent manner, not only of the ICC but also the members boards,” said ICC chair Shashank Manohar.
“This in turn will enhance the quality of the sport. No member of the ICC is bigger than the other and I am determined to make a meaningful contribution in this regard with support of all the members.”
The meeting was also the setting for talks on the future structure and scheduling of international cricket – including the impact of Twenty20 leagues on the international game – with a view to creating a clearer cricket calendar with “greater context, being underpinned by an appropriate funding model”.
Cricket’s participation at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games were discussed with no resolution, while an Anti-Corruption Oversight Group is close to being appointed. Former India captain Rahul Dravid, legal expert Louis Weston and anti-corruption advisor John Abbott have been appointed to the group.
Finally, the board decided that three of the four ICC meetings a year will take place outside of its Dubai headquarters. Its Annual Conference will take place in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh between 27 June and 2 July.
