Almost a year after he had stepped down from the post of president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India to take over as the Chairman of the International Cricket Council, Shashank Manohar today announced his resignation from the top post at the international governing body of cricket.
News agency ANI reported that Manohar, who had taken over as the BCCI’s president in the aftermath of the demise of Jagmohan Dalmiya in October 2015, citied personal reasons in his resignation which is applicable with immediate effect.
The 59-year-old, also a lawyer by profession, had quit the BCCI president’s post in May 2016. He was elected unopposed to the top job for an initial period of two years in the same month.
News agency PTI claimed that Manohar mailed his resignation letter to ICC CEO Dave Richardson without clarifying the exact reason for this sudden move.
However, according to highly-placed sources Manohar has decided to quit as BCCI seems to have gained enough ground to block the constitutional and financial reforms that were set to be passed by the ICC at its next board meeting. Any reform to be passed needs 2/3rd majority but BCCI, in all likelihood, has managed to get Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe on its side.
"I was elected unopposed as the first independent Chairman of ICC last year. I have tried to do my best and have tried to be fair and impartial in deciding matters in the functioning of the Board and in matters related to Member Boards along with the able support of all Directors," Manohar has stated in his resignation letter.
"However, for personal reasons it is not possible for me to hold the august office of ICC Chairman and hence I am tendering my resignation as Chairman with immediate effect. I take this opportunity to thank all the Directors, the Management and staff of ICC for supporting me wholeheartedly. I wish ICC all the very best and hope it achieves greater heights," he concluded.
It was during his first presidency (2008 to 2011) that the Indian cricket team became the No. 1 Test side and won the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Manohar, who hails from Nagpur, is known for maintaining transparency in the cash-rich cricketing body. In June 2010, he had suspended former IPL chairman Lalit Modi for his involvement in corruption activities.
Before being president of the BCCI, Manohar was president of the Vidarbha Cricket Association.
