CA accepts Roberts’ resignation; Hockley named interim CEO

Cricket Australia has confirmed the resignation of Kevin Roberts from the office of the Chief Executive. As an interim measure ICC T20 World Cup 2020 CEO Nick Hockley has been given the additional charge of Cricket Australia.

CA chairman Earl Eddings officially announced the change of guard in CEO’s office. The board needed fresh leadership to move on from the disruption that engulfed the organisation in the past few months, Eddings reportedly said while confirming that Nick Hockley, the CEO of the T20 World Cup local organising committee, will take over the reins at Cricket Australia on an interim basis, effective immediately after Roberts tendered his resignation.

Hockley also hold the CEO’s office for the T20 World Cup 2020. He has also been credited with the success of the Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia earlier this year with the tournament setting new broadcast and attendance bench marks for a women’s cricket competition anywhere in the world.

The final between India and hosts Australia on March 8 had an attendance of 86,174 fans at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The men’s T20 World Cup tournament – scheduled for October and November this year – remains in doubt given biosecurity and border issues caused by the pandemic. The tournament is expected to have its fate determined at the International Cricket Council’s July board meeting, with one option to postpone the tournament for 12 months.

That outcome would allow Hockley to focus his attention on CA in the short term while a search for a permanent replacement for Roberts was conducted.

The English-born Hockley has also spearheaded CA’s commercial projects between 2015 and 2017 before taking on the T20 World Cup role. He previously worked on the 2015 men’s ODI World Cup in Australia after having spent six years with the London Olympics organising committee.

Eddings said an “operational reset” for the governing body would still take place this week, as planned. Staff are expected to learn of budget cuts and redundancies on Wednesday, states a report by cricket.com.au.

“Cricket, like all national sports, has been going through a period of significant change and – in recent months we have had the added uncertainty delivered by COVID-19,” Eddings said in a statement.

“The entire cricket community has been affected and difficult decisions have been – and will continue to be necessary – to ensure that cricket at every level is in the best shape it can be now and in the future.

“It is essential that Cricket Australia continues to provide strong leadership and works constructively with everyone who has an interest in the future of the game – the players, all employees, the state associations, commercial partners and supporters.”

Roberts three year term, after he took the CA reigns from James Sutherland in  2018, were to be over at the end  of 2021. But the former Cricket Australia COO has been made to leave after serving as the CEO for only 16 months.

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