"ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar has stepped down after two, two-year tenures at its helm. The ICC Board met today and agreed that Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja will assume the responsibilities of the Chairperson until a successor is elected," ICC stated in a release.
The process for the election of the next chairperson is expected to be approved by the ICC Board within the next week.
Former ECB chairman Colin Graves and India's Sourav Ganguly are the main contenders even. Former Cricket West Indies head Dave Cameron, New Zealand's Gregor Barclay, Cricket South Africa's Chris Nenzani have also shown interest at different times.
ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney thanked Manohar "for his leadership and everything he has done for the sport as ICC Chairman."
Manohar's exit comes at a time when BCCI is very much desperate to hold the 13th season of the Indian Premier League in the October-November window instead of the ICC T20 World Cup.
ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney said: “On behalf of the ICC Board and staff and the whole cricket family, I would like to thank Shashank for his leadership and everything he has done for the sport as ICC Chairman. We wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”
ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja added: “Everyone on the ICC Board extends their wholehearted thanks to Shashank for the commitment he has shown to our sport. There is no doubt that cricket owes Shashank a debt of gratitude for all he has done for the sport. He has left cricket and the ICC in a better place than he found it.”
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