COLOMBO: Former Indian captain Anil Kumble was yesterday appointed head of the influential ‘cricket committee’ of the International Cricket Council (ICC), replacing West Indian legend Clive Lloyd.
Kumble, 41, is the world’s third-highest wicket-taker in Tests with 619 scalps, behind Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708). He also took 337 one-day international wickets.
“The ICC Board agreed unanimously to appoint former Indian captain Anil Kumble as the new chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee,” the governing body said in a statement.
The ICC board took the decision at a meeting in Colombo, where the West Indies won the World Twenty20 tournament that concluded Sunday.
“In Anil Kumble we have a new chairman who has unquestioned experience not only as a player with India but also as an administrator with Karnataka State Cricket Association,” ICC President Alan Isaac said.
He said that Kumble would bring “contemporary thinking to the committee”.
Meanwhile, former England captain Andrew Strauss also returned to cricket following his shock retirement after accepting a role with the ICC yesterday.
Strauss stunned the sport when he retired in August in the aftermath of the Kevin Pietersen row, which coincided with England losing their position as the world’s top-ranked Test team.
Pietersen sent provocative text messages to South African players reported to have contained criticism of Strauss and the mentally drained skipper decided to walk away following his team’s Test series defeat against the Proteas.
But it was felt even then that Strauss, who captained England in 50 Tests and led the team in two successful Ashes campaigns, would return to the game in a more political role.
The 35-year-old’s appointment as one of two past players on the ICC’s cricket committee was supported unanimously by the world game’s governing body. Strauss has replaced former West Indies pace bowler Ian Bishop, who did not seek an extension to his term.
The ICC cricket committee meets periodically to recommend changes to the rules to make the game more balanced and entertaining. AFP
Suspended SA boss withdraws from hearing
JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) suspended chief executive Gerald Majola withdrew from an independent disciplinary hearing into his conduct in favour of pursuing his case in the labour court.
Majola was suspended in March this year after an independent inquiry found that 4.7m rand ($540,000) in bonuses had been paid to CSA staff without clearance from the board or the remuneration committee.
The inquiry also found that Majola had breached his fiduciary duties as he also received 1.8m rand of the bonus money paid out.
Despite Majola withdrawing from his disciplinary hearing, CSA released a statement saying that “the disciplinary hearing will continue in his absence and both Mr Majola and his legal team understand the consequences of their actions.” CSA went on to say that the hearing should be concluded by the middle of next week.
REUTERS
