International Cricket Council CEO Geoff Allardice has decided to step down just weeks before the Champions Trophy with a board member indicating that his failure to present a "clear picture" of host Pakistan's lack of preparedness is one of the multiple reasons behind the move. (More Cricket News)
The 57-year-old joined the ICC in 2012 as General Manager of Cricket, coming from Cricket Australia, where he served as Cricket Operations Manager. He 𒁃was appointed CEO of the ICC in November 2021, after having served as acting CEO for eight moꦍnths.
"It has been a privilege to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Coไuncil and I am incredibly proud of the results we have achieved, from enhancing the global reach of cricket to the commercial foundation put in place for ICC Members," Allardice said in a statement.
"I believe this is the right time for me to step down and purs🦩ue new challenges," he added.
The official ICC stateme♑n♓t made no mention of the exact reasons for Allardice's departure but a top source said the development has been building up for a while.
"The ICC T20 World Cup in the US was big a flop in terms of playing conditions and also it exceeded ✤budget, the auditing is still being done," the board member told PT💮I on conditions of anonymity.
"What broke the camel's back was the Champions Trophy where as CEO, he was supposed to give a clear pictu🅠re about 🍬the readiness of Pakistan to host a tourney of such magnitude," he added.
The Champions Trophy is due to start on February 19 with India playing its share of matches in Dubai owing to security concerns in Pakist🧸an.
The bigger concern for ICC is, how🐻ever, the fact that tournament venues in Karachi and Rawalpindi are still partially under construction or renovati༒on and the images that have trickled in from there do not paint a very positive picture.
It remains to be seen whether Pakistan will be ready in time for the marquee event, which features the world'💫s top ei☂ght teams and is being held for the first time after 2017.
However, ICC Chair Jay Shah prais꧋ed Allardice for his contribution to the game.
"On behalf of the ICC Board, I want to sincerely thank Geoff for his leadership and commitment during his tenu🅘re as Chief Executive. His efforts have played a key role in advancing cricket globally.
"We are truly grateful for his service and wisꩲh him all the very best in his future endeavours," he said.
The ICC Board will now begin the process to identify Allardice's✃ successor.
His departure continues🌼 the exod𝕴us of former chair Greg Barclay's team from the ICC.
Earlier, Chris Tetley (head of ev♒ents), Alex Marshall (head of the Anti-C🍎orruption Unit) and Claire Furlong (head of marketing and media) had quit their positions on personal grounds.
