Najam Sethi likely to become ICC interim president

BANGALORE: After the Mustafa Kamal episode caused it acute embarrassment at the World Cup, the International Cricket Council is mulling over the appointment of an interim president of the governing body at its Dubai headquarters.

The Bangladesh official stirred a row following a controversial umpiring decision during India’s quarterfinal victory over his home nation. Kamal made accusations of bias against the ICC chairman N Srinivasan, and was infuriated after being denied the opportunity to hand over the World Cup winners’ trophy following the final. He subsequently quit after making more controversial comments.

The ICC is looking at an interim arrangement, although the president has largely become a figurehead with the real executive power now wielded by the chairman following the restructuring of the ICC at its annual conference in Melbourne last year. According to those close to the decision-making, the ICC plans to install former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi as interim president to see off the remaining term of the incumbent, which would have run until June.

Sethi, who is already designated to take over as ICC president after the annual conference in June, has found favour with the current dispensation to take charge so that he would have some experience before his official tenure starts.

Sethi has denied media reports that he had offered his candidature as interim president. “I really don’t know who floated the story that I have offered myself for the position (of interim president). It is completely untrue and it is entirely up to the ICC Board to decide who they want to appoint. As things stand, my tenure with the ICC will formally start after the annual conference,” he said.

I DON’T KNOW WHO FLOATED THE STORY. IT IS COMPLETELY UNTRUE... AS THINGS STAND, MY TENURE WITH THE ICC WILL FORMALLY START AFTER THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE NAJAM SETHI, Ex-PCB chairman