ICC defers decision on presidency

The ICC's Executive Board has deferred till October, when it next meets, a decision over a proposed amendment of its constitution regarding the appointment of its president.
In its deliberations this morning, the Executive Board decided not to take the matter to the Full Council for a vote when it meets tomorrow on the final day of the annual conference. Today's meeting went as expected with the PCB objecting as they had done in May, and Bangladesh arguing that the amendment should take place when the full cycle of the rotational policy was completed, which would be after the 2014 candidates for president and vice-president were named by Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Along with Pakistan and Bangladesh - who have agreed to not nominate a candidate for ICC Vice-President before the matter is again considered by the Executive Board - a third member of the Executive Board approved of the deferral of the amendment on the grounds of procedure. The member said that while they supported the idea of only the most meritorious candidates taking on the job of ICC president, the issue of a constitutional amendment needed a more careful and reasoned deliberation than how it had been done in May - by circular resolution, that is, only through written communication. The decision, the Full Member said, was far too important to be decided without a full and proper discussion by the Board.

Between now and its next meeting in October, the Executive Board will discuss the matter and it will once again be brought to vote if necessary. By then the Governance Review Committee would have completed its review of all governance-related matters - including the possibility of appointing independent directors.

As a result of the deferral today, there is a possibility that should the amendment reach the Full Council, another annual general meeting could be called between now and June of 2012 to see it through. In June 2012, the ICC will have to pick a successor to New Zealand's Alan Isaac for the position of ICC president. Within the next 12 months, the ICC will have to either push through the amendment or stick with the rotational policy, in which case someone from Pakistan or Bangladesh will assume the highest office in cricket in 2014.

Sharda Ugra is senior editor at ESPNcricinfo

source of post:
www. ESPNcricinfo.com