COLOMBO, Oct 11: Former Indian captain Anil Kumble was on Thursday appointed head of the influential cricket committee — which helps to draw up rules on playing issues — of the 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.

Andrew Strauss, who retired as England captain earlier this year in the wake of a row involving batsman Kevin Pietersen sending critical text messages to their South African opponents, was also appointed to the committee. The 35-year-old, who had been expected to return to the game in a political capacity, replaces former West Indies pace bowler Ian Bishop, who did not seek an extension to his term.

Strauss scored 7,037 runs in 100 Tests for England and 4,205 in 127 One-day Internationals.

The ICC board took the decision at a meeting here n Colombo, where the West Indies won the World Twenty20 tournament that concluded on 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.—Agencies