N Srinivasan confirmed as International Cricket Council chairman

Former BCCI Chief N Srinivasan was on Thursday named as the ICC`s first chairman after constitutional changes to the governing body were passed at the annual conference in Melbourne. Srinivasan, whose name was confirmed after the 52-member Full Council approved the ICC’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, will officially take charge on July 1.As it was known before the conference that Srinivasan was elected the Chairman of ICC despite being barred by the Supreme Court of India form carrying his duties as BCCI president due to a probe into the match-fixing allegations during the IPL 2013 edition.

“It is an honour to be confirmed as the Chairman of the International Cricket Council,” said Mr Srinivasan, adding: “I will leave no stone unturned in trying to strengthen the pillars and foundations of our sport, both on and off the field. I want to ensure that cricket retains and grows its popularity, and that the ICC plays a leading role in this global growth.

“I want to see more strong teams in international cricket. For this to be achieved, we all need to work hard to develop local talent in our countries. Naturally, there will be more support to those who first show they can help themselves.

“The ICC is a Members’ organisation and the pathway is now there for any Member to play Test cricket or in the major ICC events if it performs well enough over a sustained period of time.” The ICC annual conference also elected Mustafa Kamal of Bangladesh as the 11th president of the governing body and formed a new executive committee headed by Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards.