The new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) could be decided by this month when its board meets via conference call on Wednesday and Thursday. This will be preceded by a meeting of its chief executives’ committee on Monday.
The ICC had announced last month that the process for the election of its next chairperson, which is being overseen by the independent chairman of its audit committee, is expected to be concluded by early December.
The ICC hasn’t made the nominations public though sources suggested that New Zealand’s Greg Barclay and Singapore’s Imran Khwaja are the two candidates for the post.
As first reported by The Telegraph on October 14, Barclay remains the favourite to succeed Shashank Manohar. New Zealand Cricket’s representative on the ICC board, who is also chairman of the International Rugby League, is learnt to enjoy the support of most of the Test-playing nations, including India, England and Australia, besides at least two of the three associate members.
A total of 17 directors on the ICC board can vote — 12 full members, three directors representing associates, ICC chairman and independent woman director Indra Nooyi.
Khwaja, however, can cast his vote as acting chair of the associate members and not as interim ICC chairman, which means 16 votes will decide the issue. It could further come down to 15 if Cricket South Africa is not allowed to vote because of the current impasse.
According to the ICC constitution, two-thirds majority is needed for a candidate to be chairman, which means 11 of the 16 votes or 10 if there are 15. There is no provision for simple majority though few nations have been pressing for it.
Khwaja’s candidature is also under a cloud since he apparently doesn’t enjoy Singapore’s sanction since 2017.
A close Manohar associate, Khwaja enjoys the backing of Pakistan Cricket Board and Nooyi and will need at least six votes to ensure he remains in the chair. It has been decided that in case there’s no clear winner, Khwaja will continue for a period determined by the board.
