KARACHI: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Ehsan Mani is under serious pressure from the governing body of the game, the International Cricket Council (ICC), to take up its Chairmanship, Dawn has learnt.

Dawn understands that the ICC is worried about failing to meet commercial targets because of the potential Covid-19 enforced cancellations and postponements. Meanwhile, it is yet to see whether Mani would take up the role or not.

The ICC World T20 2020 is scheduled to be played in Australia later this year. But because of the ongoing pandemic, it looks highly unlikely that the event would take place. The ICC has already discussed the fate of the tournament once in a meeting on May 28 and may possibly do it again in a meeting with board members on June 10. The procedure of the election of the new chairman is also expected to be discussed in the meeting.

In case of a postponement, ICC could lose millions of dollars which is why they are looking to get Mani onboard as soon as possible. Mani has had a relatively successful stint with the ICC in the past and was elected as its Chairman for the first time in July 2002. He held that post for four years before stepping down in 2006.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2020