ICC needs an independent chairman, says former ICC president Ehsan Mani
Mumbai: While the Indian cricket board's suspended president Narayanswamy Srinivasan's proposed chairmanship is set to be challenged in the Supreme Court in India, the former ICC president Ehsan Mani wants an independent chairman for the world's highest governing body.
Speaking from London, Ehsan Mani says, "what the ICC desperately needs is an independent chairman who is not connected to any Board, someone of the stature of John Howard or John Major to act in the best interest of the game and all the members but as you are well aware that is unlikely to happen".
The Indian cricket board is one of the partners of proposed the Big Three.
John Howard, the former Australian Prime Minister, whose love for the game is well-known, was denied the ICC's vice presidentship (thanks to BCCI). Sir John Major, who served the UK as its Prime Minister for over six years in late nineties, has been spotted at grounds in all major matches in Britain.
It is for the CA and ECB to call the shots now.
Strangely, the ICC president Alan Issac and all Board Members have remained silent on the issue. However, that was not the case ten years ago when the similar situation arised.
It may however, be recalled here that during Ehsan Mani's tenure as ICC president (2003-2006), the former Sri Lanka Cricket board president Thilanga Sumathipala, who was facing criminal charges then, was advised to be away from the Board meetings.
According to the letter written to the SLC board then, a copy of which has been obtained from the sources in Sri Lanka, Sumathipala's representation at the ICC meeting was not favoured and the same was conveyed in clear terms by the former ICC president, Ehsan Mani.
