BCCI chief Shashank Manohar quits; to pitch for ICC top job

Indian cricket control board president Shashank Manohar on Tuesday resigned to contest again for the post of International Cricket Council chairman, which he currently holds.

Mr Manohar sent a letter to BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur announcing his resignation “with immediate effect”.

Even as the BCCI continues to come under pressure from the Supreme Court to implement sweeping reforms mooted by a committee led by a former chief justice of India, Mr Manohar created something of a sensation alleging that he had been “forced to resign”.

“I could not work in the present scenario. I don’t want to name anyone but can say I have been forced to resign,” Mr Manohar told this paper from Mahabaleshwar.

Asked whether the Lodha committee’s recommendations had made his task difficult, Mr Manohar said, “I don’t want to say more than that — I wanted to run the organisation on my terms and conditions. I don’t want my image to be spoiled. I don’t wish to run the board with others’ influence.”

The resignation clears the way for his bid for re-election as ICC chairman as under proposed reforms in the international body, he cannot hold a parallel post at home.

In his letter, Mr Manohar said, “I hereby tender my resignation with immediate effect from the post of President of (the) Board of Control for Cricket in India. I also resign with immediate effect as the representative of BCCI on the International Cricket Council, as also the Asian Cricket Council on which I was nominated by the General Body of BCCI. ”

Mr Thakur said in a statement, “The BCCI confirms that Mr Shashank Manohar has resigned from the post of President, BCCI. The BCCI places on record its deep appreciation of the immense contribution to Indian cricket made by Mr Manohar.”

Mr Manohar took over as BCCI president for a second time in October last year following the sudden death of Jagmohan Dalmiya. He was expected to steer the board through a period of reform that became necessary when, under Narayanaswami Srinivasan, it was hit by a series of scandals, one of which involved his son-in-law who was held guilty of betting on IPL matches.

Though Mr Thakur is widely tipped to succeed Mr Manohar, IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla and Maharashtra Cricket Association president Ajay Shirke are said to be the other top contenders for the BCCI presidency.