Melbourne – India’s N. Srinivasan, was confirmed as chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Melbourne on Thursday, giving the 69-year-old industrialist the most powerful role in the governing body’s restructured organisation.
Srinivasan, who emerged as the leading candidate to become ICC chairman in February, will assume office almost immediately after the governing body’s ratification of the constitution at its annual conference.
The conference is being held this week in Australia.
“It is an honour to be confirmed as the Chairman of the International Cricket Council,” Srinivasan said in a statement after the 52-member full council approved the amendments.
The amendments are perceived by many observers to give India, England and Australia virtual control of the sport.
Often described as the most powerful man in cricket, Srinivasan became Indian board (BCCI) president in 2011 but was ordered to step aside in March.
The reason was to ensure a fair investigation into an illegal betting scandal during last year’s Indian Premier League involving his son-in-law.
The Chennai-native was also accused of having a conflict of interest, due to his India cement company owning a franchise in the lucrative Twenty20 League.
Those controversies have led to some criticism of his appointment.
One of the critics, an official of a now unrecognised unit within the Indian cricket board urged the country’s Supreme Court to bar Srinivasan from taking over as ICC chief.
“I believe that some of the criticism is unfair to me and it’s not well-founded,” Srinivasan told reporters. “One must judge me by results.
“It’s the first day. I have just been elected. One has to wait and see as to what is the effect I have on the ICC before you make that call.”
– Reuters/NAN