Shashank Manohar is set to get a two-year extension as the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Manohar, who became ICC first independent chairman in 2016, is scheduled to complete his two-year term in June this year. Representatives of member nations of the sport’s world governing body will be discussing the issue besides transacting usual business, at its five-day quarterly conclave which begins on Sunday.
The ICC has an elaborate election process in place, but indications are that Manohar is unlikely to face a contest and will be elected unopposed - just like he was for his first term. According to reliable sources, Manohar is open to continuing for a second successive two-year term provided the members back him unanimously. The quarterly meeting is a prelude to ICC’s annual conference scheduled in Dublin in June.
The only opposition to Manohar could come from England and Wales Cricket Board’s outgoing chairman Giles Clarke, but it remains to be seen whether he has enough support. It will be interesting to see what role Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB chairman Najam Sethi plays in the given scenario, especially with his board appealing to the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Forum against the BCCI for not honouring the MoU to play bilateral series. Sethi has been canvassing actively in a bid to get more international teams to play in Pakistan after successfully hosting the PSL final and a three-match T20 series against the West Indies in Karachi earlier this month.
Sethi will be accompanied by PCB chief executive Subhan Ahmed at the meeting. West Indies Cricket president Dave Cameron and Cricket Australia’s David Peever will not be attending the meeting due to personal reasons. ICC members will also be finalising the fixtures for 2019 World Cup to be held in England. With the quadrennial meet scheduled to be held from May 30 to July 14 next year, the ICC is expected release the fixtures later this month.
The ICC will also finalise the World XI squad that will take on the West Indies in a charity match at Lord’s on May 31 to raise funds for the renovation of damaged grounds in the Caribbean. So far, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Mallik and Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera have confirmed their participation.
