April 29, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 22, 1429

MUMBAI, April 28: The Asian bloc along with the cricket boards of South Africa and Zimbabwe combined to force ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed out of his job prematurely as they felt the Australian was ‘biased’ against them, reliable sources revealed on Monday.

Speed went on paid leave just two months before the end of his tenure in June citing a “fundamental breakdown” between him and ICC President Ray Mali and the member boards.

Sources in India and Pakistan cricket boards disclosed that India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka alongwith the South Africans and Zimbabweans joined hands to force Speed out.

Sources said the six boards felt Speed’s attitude was biased against them on certain issues, particularly over the financial report on the activities of Zimbabwe Cricket.

“The decision to send Speed on forced leave was taken during the recent opening of the IPL in Mumbai,” a source disclosed.

He said the flashpoint in the relations between Speed and the executive board came at the last meeting held in Dubai where the ZC report was discussed and cleared.

“Speed was told that as chief executive he must be clear at the media briefing that the ZC audit report had revealed no financial irregularities but he refused to do this in violation of all norms creating an impression that some members were trying to protect the ZC,” the source said.

The source added that even on the issue of controversial umpire Darrell Hair’s reinstatement, Speed played a sort of a biased role to get him back on Test duty despite series of complaints against the umpire and resistance from some fellow members.

Even on some other major issues like the Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds clash in Australia, Speed had developed differences with other members. —Agencies