Sumathipala ready to take over in ICC crisis
Had Shashank Manohar not resigned, the Motion of No Confidence would have been on the cards For the sake of stability and if the Board Members show confidence I will response positively
The Indian Cricket Board has now gathered ‘enough support’ to oppose the new financial structure at the International Cricket Council (ICC), informed sources revealed.
In the last ICC meeting, only Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) voted in favour of the BCCI and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) abstained from voting. But now the situation has changed.
Now not only ZC will support but the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has come forward to join hands with SLC in opposing the financial model and governance structure.
Tauengwa Mukhulani, the Chairman of ZC is in Sri Lanka to confirm his support to India.
Interestingly, the BCB President Nazmul Hasan Papon is a Member of the ICC’S Working Group for the formation of new structure.
However, according to the BCB sources here, certain modifications were made in the draft without his knowledge and that has angered him to go against Shashank Manohar.
“Had Shashank Manohar not resigned, the Motion of No Confidence would have been on the cards”, the source has put. The strategic meeting was held in Colombo yesterday (15) to prepare a road-map ahead for BCCI and there was a likelihood
of bringing this to the notice of the ICC, which prompted Shashank Manohar to step down.
The question now is who would be the next ICC Chairman? Can he be Thilanga Sumathipala? Yes, he may become an Interim Chairman.
“Look, we the ICC Board Members met here to strengthen the ICC. If all Board Members agree to my appointment as the ICC Chairman, I am prepared to accept the challenge,” he said.
“For the sake of stability and if the Board Members show confidence I will respond positively.”
The ICC will appoint an Interim Chairman now. Then the elected chairman in June through elections.
Sumathipala is aware that to happen this he has to resign as the SLC President. “I have no issues with that.”
The votes of the West Indies and Pakistan are considered to be important. They were critical in the last meeting. However, Sumathipala, being a strong voice in Sri Lanka, a turn of table is not ruled out.
Nazmul Hasan Papon is likely to discuss the issues with the PCB Chairman Shahryar Khan, it is also learned here.