The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday announced Geoff Allardice as the organisation’s permanent CEO after more than eight months in the role on an interim basis.
Allardice, a former first-class cricketer, was the ICC General Manager, Cricket for eight years having previously held a similar role at Cricket Australia.
Commenting on the development, Greg Barclay, ICC Chair said: “I am delighted that Geoff has agreed to take the role of ICC CEO on a permanent basis. He has shown tremendous leadership during an extremely challenging period culminating in the successful delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.
“Geoff has unrivaled knowledge of the global cricket landscape and its stakeholders and has consistently demonstrated he is the right person to work in partnership with our Members to shape the sport for the next decade as we embark on delivering a new strategy and our next commercial rights cycle,” he added.
On the other hand, an elated Allardice said: “It’s a great privilege to be appointed as the CEO of the ICC and I would like to thank Greg and the ICC Board for the opportunity to lead the sport as we enter an exciting new phase of growth.”
“My continued focus will be on doing the right thing for our sport and working closely with Members to deliver long-term success and sustainability. I would also like to thank the ICC staff for their commitment and support over the last eight months and I’m looking forward to continuing to serve cricket with such a talented team,” he added.
Earlier in July thi year, the global cricket governing body had sacked Manu Sawhney as its CEO, exactly four months after suspending him.
Notably in March this year, the ICC had sent Sawhney on “leave” as his conduct came under the scanner during an internal investigation by audit firm PWC.
On the other hand, Sawhney had said that the governing body’s probe against him was nothing but a “premeditated witch-hunt”.
“It is abundantly clear to me, as it would be to any reasonable person or bystander, that I am the victim of a premeditated witch-hunt. All pretence at undertaking a fair process or giving me a fair hearing has been completely abandoned.
“There has been no attempt to comply with the ICC’s internal policies or even basic principles of natural justice,” he added.
Significantly, four allegations were levelled against Sawhney, as he was accused of “targeted acts of bullying against certain [ICC] staff”; of “physical aggression, such as fist banging”; of having “impacted directly and indirectly on individuals’ health and wellbeing through [his] behaviour”; and, that he did not “properly report to the [ICC] Board and have implemented decisions or changes without proper consultation with the Board”.
Sawhney was appointed ICC CEO in January 2019.