Cricket

The International Cricket Council's (ICC) Annual Conference commenced in Colombo on Friday, marking the initiation of crucial meetings and elections. The inaugural day featured gatherings of Associate Members, Regional Representatives, and Non-Voting Associate Members.A pivotal event on the agenda was the election of Associate Member Directors. Mubashshir Usmani, Imran Khawaja, and Mahinda Vallipuram emerged victorious, securing 23, 20, and 13 votes, respectively. These three directors will now represent the associate nations on the ICC board.Usmani, a current member of the ICC's Chief Executive Committee (CEC), played a key role in launching the ILT20 in the UAE. Pankaj Khimji, a sitting associate member director, lost his position after receiving only 7 votes.The election witnessed 11 candidates vying for the three directors' posts. Directors are elected for a two-year term through a ballot system, with all Associate Members and Regional Representatives casting their votes.Traditionally, the associate director with the most votes assumes the role of vice chairman within the ICC. This trend may see Usmani occupy this prominent position.The ICC's Annual General Meeting (AGM) continues with a series of meetings scheduled from July 19 to 22 in Colombo, where further important decisions and discussions will take place.

The upcoming ICC Annual Conference in Colombo, commencing on Friday, holds immense significance for the cricketing world. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah's potential takeover as ICC Chairman from New Zealander Greg Barclay will be a key topic of discussion.One of the major concerns on the agenda is the substantial financial losses incurred by the ICC during the T20 World Cup games held in the United States. Reports indicate losses exceeding USD 20 million. While the AGM's nine-point agenda does not explicitly address financial details, it will be discussed as a "post-event report."The appointment of ICC's new external auditor, ICC memberships, reports from associate members' meetings, and the presentation of ICC development awards are also on the agenda.A crucial issue not included in the official agenda but likely to be raised under "Any Other Business" is India's decision to decline participation in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.According to an ICC source, the timing of Jay Shah's succession as ICC Chairman is a primary concern. The source stated, "It is not about how but when, as he still has one year left as BCCI secretary before his cooling-off period in Indian board starts in 2025 as per constitution."Speculation suggests that the ICC's chairmanship term could be revised from three terms of two years each to two terms of three years, maintaining the cumulative term at six years. This would allow Shah to complete his six years as BCCI secretary and assume the ICC chairmanship in 2025 for three years during his cooling-off period in the BCCI. Subsequently, he could return in 2028 to take over as the board president.