The Chief Executive (CEO) of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Manu Sawhney was asked to go on leave on Tuesday following an adverse report by independent audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers over his style of functioning. The review was commissioned in February. The ICC had no official comments to offer.
“Having lost the support of the recently appointed Chairman Greg Barclay, a majority in the board as well as staff, it is expected of Sawney to put down his papers,” an ICC board member, who did not wish to be named, said.
Sawhney became the ICC Ceo in January 2019, at the end of a seven-year stint by former South African cricketer Dave Richardson.
Sawhney’s position came under the lens after Imran Khwaja lost the Chairmanship race to the big three boards (India, Australia and England) backed Barclay, last November. Some ICC member boards accused Sawney of openly campaigning for Khwaja, who worked as a deputy to former Chairman Shashank Manohar. That’s when the proposal to have one ICC event a year was pushed for member’s approval. The move was aggressively opposed by the big three who saw it eating up into their lucrative bilateral deals.
After Barclay’s appointment, the 2023-31 future tours program has been further discussed, and the three big boards have opposed being asked to bid and pay a fee for hosting ICC events. Khwaja has since won the battle for associates to retain his place in the ICC board, thus the decision making. The ICC board meeting will be held this month-end, where a number of these contentious issues will be under discussion.
{{/usCountry}}After Barclay’s appointment, the 2023-31 future tours program has been further discussed, and the three big boards have opposed being asked to bid and pay a fee for hosting ICC events. Khwaja has since won the battle for associates to retain his place in the ICC board, thus the decision making. The ICC board meeting will be held this month-end, where a number of these contentious issues will be under discussion.
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