Would be healthier not to have next ICC chairman from big three boards, opines Ehsan Mani
PCB chief Ehsan Mani has demanded that the next ICC chairman shouldn't be from the big three boards, BCCI, CA and ECB for the better health of the game. Mani also asserted that the ICC needs to appoint independent directors given the conflict of interest, which wasn't there in the last 17 years.
As International Cricket Council (ICC) still contemplates the process to ascertain the next ICC chairman, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, Ehsan Mani has suggested that the incoming chairman shouldn't be from cricketing powerhouses aka the big three, which comprises of the BCCI, CA and ECB. ICC are still considering whether to choose the next chairman on the basis of two-thirds majority vote or a simple majority.
Shashank Manohar called it quits from the ICC chairman's position, two months back, after which Imran Khwaja, the former president of the Singapore Cricket Association was appointed as ICC's interim chairman. Notably, Manohar had served two terms in the role of the ICC chairman.
"It's unfortunate it has taken so long. The politics introduced by Australia, England and India in 2014 to protect their positions - now they are struggling to unwind it because it doesn't suit them anymore. It would be healthier to have someone (the chairperson) not from the 'big three'," Mani told Forbes.
Former ECB chairman Colin Graves, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, NZC chairman Greg Barclay and former Cricket West Indies head Dave Cameron are the front runners in the race to be the next ICC chairman. Mani, who himself has served as ICC chairman from 2003 to 2006, pointed out towards 'conflict of interest' in the ICC and demanded the appointment of independent directors.
"There is a huge problem of conflict of interest on the board," Mani said. "I've never seen that before, not in 17 years. This sort of conflict of interest is not transparent. The ICC is crying out for more independent directors," said the 75-year-old veteran.
Mani also talked about how big a deal it is to continue surviving in international cricket without playing India.
"We survived without playing India (who refuse to play bilateral series against their arch-nemesis). Can you imagine if that happened to Cricket Australia if India didn't come?", asked Mani.
The PCB chief is hopeful that Pakistan would get to host a World Cup in the next cycle, which will be between 2023 to 2031.
"We want to host a World Cup during this cycle," Mani said. "There are three-four events we have expressed interest, including some to host jointly with the UAE," said Mani.