Kamal resigns as ICC president amid controversy

Published April 1, 2015
ICC President Mustafa Kamal says the main reason for his resignation is that he "can't work with those who can act unconstitutionally". —AFP/File
ICC President Mustafa Kamal says the main reason for his resignation is that he "can't work with those who can act unconstitutionally". —AFP/File

DHAKA: International Cricket Council (ICC) President Mustafa Kamal announced his resignation Wednesday, accusing colleagues within the game's global body of acting “unlawfully”.

“The main reason for my resignation is that I can't work with those who can act unconstitutionally and unlawfully,” he told reporters in Dhaka.

Bangladesh's outspoken Kamal had earlier threatened to expose 'mischievous things' within cricket's front office after being denied of the right to present the trophy to the winners after Sunday's World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand.

"I was supposed to give the trophy today. It is my constitutional right. But very unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to do so. My rights were dishonoured. After I go back home, I will let the whole world know what's happening in ICC. I will let the whole world know about those guys who are doing these mischievous things," ESPNCricinfo reported Kamal as saying.

The departing ICC president first courted controversy when he alleged that the Bangladesh-India World Cup quarter-final was "pre-arranged" in India's favour.

The cricket world was shocked as Kamal claimed decisions made by officials during Bangladesh's 109-run loss to India in their World Cup quarter-final in Melbourne on Thursday seemed to have been following a script.

Kamal was angry that India's Rohit Sharma, who top-scored with 137, had not been given not out on 90 when he was caught at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Rubel Hossain, only for umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould to signal a no-ball for what appeared to be a legitimate waist-high delivery.

ICC chief executive Dave Richardson defended Dar and Gould from all accusations of biased officiating.

“The ICC has noted Mr Mustafa Kamal's comments, which are very unfortunate but made in his personal capacity. As an ICC President, he should have been more considerate in his criticism of ICC match officials, whose integrity cannot be questioned,” said Richardson.

The ICC is yet to respond to the latest development and it remains to be seen whether Pakistan Cricket Board's governing board member and former chairman, Najam Sethi, who was set to take up the post of ICC president in June 2015, will be expedited into the role with Kamal's departure.

Patron of the PCB, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had endorsed the decision of the chairman Shaharyar Khan and Board of Governors (BoG) to recommend Sethi as Pakistan’s nominee for the post of the president of ICC for a one-year term in October last year.

It is the second time that Pakistan got this post with Ehsan Mani representing the country as ICC president in early 2000. However, when Mani was president of the ICC the post was not a ceremonial one which it has become now in wake of the formation of the Big-Three whereby India, Australia and England enjoy veto power.

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