THE replacement for Haroon Lorgat, the outgoing ICC chief executive, is likely to be finalised next week. David Collier (ECB CEO), Dave Richardson (ICC’s current general manager, cricket), Tarun Kunzru and an Australian name whose identity could not be ascertained, underwent an elaborate interview process in Mumbai on Sunday, in front of the ICC nomination committee, headed by Sharad Pawar, the governing body’s president. Also attending the meeting were the ICC vice-president Alan Issac, WICB president Julian Hunte, Cricket Scotland head Keith Oliver along with the pair of N. Srinivasan and Giles Clarke (BCCI president and ECB chairman respectively).
The four candidates had been shortlisted by the global executive search company Egon Zehnder.
Pawar said the nomination committee will deliberate further before making call. “We will discuss again before taking a final decision,” Pawar told ESPNcricinfo.
It is understood the panel, after internal discussions, will recommend the final name via teleconference to the ICC board comprising ten Full Members and three Associates. The name would then go for endorsement to the full council at the ICC’s annual general meeting, scheduled for late June in Kuala Lumpur.
It is understood that the four candidates did not have to make any presentations, as the interviews were plain but extensive conversations lasting at least 90 minutes each.
An ICC source said all four candidates had an equal chance at this stage even if not much is known about Kunzru (who is of Indian origin, and, according to Pawar, works in the Middle East), and the Australian candidate at this stage.
As for the remaining two candidates, Collier has rich experience in the executive role, having managed ECB as CEO for the last eight years, but Richardson has a better understanding of how the ICC operates in addition to having a good rapport with players. (ESPN Cricinfo)