ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson to resign after 2019 World Cup

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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ICC chief executive Dave Richardson has announced that he will step down from his role following the 2019 World Cup. The former South African cricketer has held the role at the ICC since 2012 after joining the governing body of the sport in 2002 as the ICC General Manager - Cricket.

Richardson, a gritty cricketer and wicketkeeper for South Africa during the apartheid times, remained more successful as an administrator than he was as a cricketer. When South Africa were reinstated to cricket back in 1992, Richardson got a chance to represent the country and played 42 Tests and 122 One-Day Internationals between 1992 to 1998. He scored 1359 runs in Tests at an average of 24.26 and 868 runs at an average of 19.72 in ODIs. However, his tenure as the CEO of ICC saw him rising to popularity thanks to some popular and controversial decisions that he made in his tenure. 

Richardson has had a reassuring presence in the big decisions - starting from the "Big Three" shake-up at the ICC, which was subsequently reversed, to the reduction of the World Cup to ten teams, and establishing an ODI league and World Test Championship. Richardson also oversaw the time when ICC enjoyed a rising commercial returns - most importantly an eight-year TV rights deal with Star Sports in 2014 - and the creation of two new Full Members, in Ireland and Afghanistan. However, his time at the governing body of the game is approaching an end as he has already intimated the global body that he will not seek an extension following the World Cup in England. 

"The hardest thing as a cricketer is knowing when the time is right to retire. But for me, the end of the ICC Cricket World Cup next year is about right. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the ICC and I am particularly pleased with what we have achieved in recent times in creating greater context for all formats of the game and securing increased opportunities and clear pathways for all members to play at the highest level,” Richardson said in an ICC Press Release.

"I will certainly do all I can over the next 12 months to ensure that we complete our work on the new global strategy for cricket aimed at growing the game both in our traditional and new markets, and, in particular put on a World Cup that does the game proud."

After accepting the resignation, ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar hailed the South African for his contributions to the game. 

"On behalf of the ICC Board, I would like to thank David for his service and commitment to cricket over the past 16 years and, particularly, over the last six years as CEO. His achievements speak for themselves, but in recent history the commercial success of the sport, his leadership of the ICC team and establishing greater context for international cricket are of particular note,” Manohar said.

"David will be missed by everyone in the game, but this is an opportunity for the ICC to drive forward our new global growth strategy, which David has played an integral part in developing, under new leadership. A global recruitment process will now get underway to identify the right person to lead the ICC."

The 2019 World Cup will see England take on South Africa on the opening game and the final that will be played at Lord's on July 14 will be the last day at the office for Richardson. 

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