ICC Executive Board meets in Dubai

The ICC Executive Board met at the ICC headquarters in Dubai on 15 February and also held a joint session with members of the Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) on the previous day. Among the important reports considered and/or decisions made were:

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

The Board was pleased to hear that excitement was reaching unprecedented heights around the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka which starts with the Opening Ceremony in Dhaka tomorrow (Thursday) evening. Haroon Lorgat said: “All indications and reports point towards an eagerly awaited event as teams look forward to annex ‘The Cup that Counts’.

“Whether it is in Bangladesh, India or Sri Lanka the interest in the event is evident and we are grateful to the three hosts for their splendid efforts in preparing well for the tournament. The World Cup promises to be a showpiece full of colour and passion and will be the pride and joy of each host nation. Having Sachin Tendulkar as our tournament ambassador is extra special.”

The Board was satisfied with all the efforts made to deliver a world class event and, in particular, it endorsed the decision to relocate the India match against England from Eden Gardens, Kolkata to Bengaluru.

Lorgat added: “This decision was by no means easy but one the ICC had to make to ensure smooth planning ahead of the event. I am pleased that Eden Gardens is on track to host the remaining three matches in March.”

Spot fixing

The ICC Executive Board acknowledged the good work of the ICC executive in successfully concluding the case against three Pakistan cricketers found guilty of spot-fixing under the ICC Anti Corruption Code. The ICC Executive Board confirmed it would not appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the sanctions imposed by the Independent Tribunal.

The Board, having a zero tolerance attitude towards corruption, expressed disappointment at the decision by a minor Pakistan television channel, which has no relationship with the ICC, to employ the suspended Salman Butt as a studio pundit during the forthcoming ICC Cricket World Cup.

Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive, said: “We are not satisfied with this appointment and we have written to Tribunal Chairman Michael Beloff QC to enquire whether this could be viewed as a breach against the terms of his suspended sentence.”

The Board also strengthened the ICC Anti Corruption Code by introducing penalties against players and support staff who breach the rules by carrying communication devices into the dressing room areas. The penalties, supported by the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association (FICA), will include fines.

Strategic plan

For only the second time, directors of the ICC Executive Board and members of the Chief Executives’ Committee met in a joint session on 14 February 2011. This was a highly productive session to shape the scope and content of the ICC Strategic Plan for 2011-2015.

The world’s leading cricket administrators discussed a range of strategic topics from the role of the ICC, governance, promotion and protection of the three formats of the game, competition and meritocratic pathways as well as targeted investment.

Lorgat said: “This was a rare but crucial opportunity for the leadership group to express a wide range of opinions which will now be distilled into our new strategic plan which will be agreed at our next Board meeting.”

Governance Committee matters

The ICC Governance and Review Committee provided various options for the Board to consider on the qualification or otherwise of Members’ participation in the 10 team ICC Cricket World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand in 2015. This will be worked on further and brought back to the April Board meeting for consideration.

The ICC Annual Conference will be held in Hong Kong from 26 June to 1 July 2011 and the LG ICC Awards, staged in conjunction with FICA, will be in London on 12 September 2011.

The ICC Board consists of the chairman or president from each of the 10 Full Members plus three Associate Member representatives. Also present at ICC Board meetings is the ICC President, who chairs proceedings, the ICC Chief Executive and the ICC Vice-President, as well as, by invitation of the President, the ICC Principal Advisor.

4Sharad Pawar ICC President

4Alan Isaac ICC Vice-President

4Haroon Lorgat ICC Chief Executive

4Ijaz Butt Pakistan

4Ijaz Butt Pakistan

4Peter Chingoka Zimbabwe

4Giles Clarke England and Wales

4Jack Clarke Australia

4Dr Julian Hunte West Indies

4Imran Khwaja Associate Member Representative

4Keith Oliver Associate Member Representative

4Shashank Manohar India

4Abdul Kader Khan South Africa

4DS de Silva  Sri Lanka

4Neil Speight Associate Member Representative

4Dr. Justin Vaughan New Zealand

Apologies:

Mustafa Kamal Bangladesh

Chris Moller New Zealand

*Alternate for Chris Moller