Dubai: Shashank Manohar's tenure as the International Cricket Council's first independent chairman came to an end on Wednesday.
According to a media release sent by the ICC, Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja will take over as interim chairman till the election process is set in motion.
"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.
Manohar, as per ICC rules, could have stayed for another two-year term as a maximum of three terms are allowed.
The process for the election of the next chairperson is expected to be approved by the ICC Board within the next week.
“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,” said ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney.
After becoming the chairman in 2016, Manohar bagged the second term in 2018 by getting elected unopposed for a second time. The 62-year-old cricket administrator had previously been the BCCI President from 2008 to 2011.
The interim chairman Khwaja said, “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."
