Mani poised to strengthen ICC's unity in diversity
New ICC prez Ehsan Mani stressed the importance of respecting opinions and aspirations of all the game's stakeholders.
After Jagmohan Dalmiya, Ehsan Mani is the second Asian to become President of the ICC, succeeding Malcolm Gray whose three-year term came to an end on Thursday.
Mani, 58, born in Rawalpindi, was nominated for the position by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). On taking over as President Mani said: "It is a great privilege to have been given the opportunity to lead international cricket. It is a challenge that I welcome and look forward to.
"As I take on this role, I am focused on the importance of the union that binds the ICC, the diversity that is our strength and the importance of respecting and addressing the opinions and aspirations of all the game's stakeholders.
Talking about his predecessor, Malcolm Gray, he said: "Under his stewardship, the ICC has been transformed. He arrived at a time when the scourge of corruption threatened to tear the game apart. His leadership, focus and commitment have enabled the ICC to turn the tide in the battle against this threat.
"He has overseen the modernisation of the game's governance by establishing much clearer roles for directors and the management, making the organisation more professional and efficient."
Wishing Mani the best of luck, Gray said: "He (Mani) is now charged with taking the ICC forward and I am sure he will perform this role with distinction."
A chartered accountant by profession, Ehsan Mani represented the PCB at the ICC from 1989 until 1996. He was then elected chairman of the ICC Finance and Marketing Committee, a position he held until the Committee was dissolved in June 2002 when he took over as Vice President of the ICC Executive Board. He was also on the Rules Review Committee and the Governance and Organisation Committee. He wrote a significant paper on the sharing of ICC Cricket World Cup revenues between the host and member countries which impacted the financial arrangements of the ICC and its members.
Other than cricket, Mani is on the Board of a number of UK companies in the banking and real estate sectors. Known for financial acumen Mani played a major role in the sale of ICC media rights in 2000. The negotiations led to a guaranteed income of $550 million for international cricket, up to and including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.
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