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Gavaskar quits ICC job because of media duties
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May 8, 2008, 09:43

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar quit his role as chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee on Thursday because of time constraints on his media duties.

Gavaskar confirmed his decision the day after chairing this year’s meeting, in Dubai.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the eight years I have held the role, which is an honorary position, and it has been extremely fulfilling to be able to give back to the game through that role," Gavaskar said.

“However, with more and more cricket being played it has become clear that it is not possible for me to do justice to two jobs, the chairmanship of the ICC Cricket Committee and my media commitments.

“As an example of that, I had to leave my professional commitments as a commentator on the Indian Premier League matches in order to come and chair this year’s meeting in Dubai.

“I envisaged the potential for this sort of issue two years ago and intimated then that I was not able to continue in the role but when I was asked to do so I was honoured to be re-elected.

“Now, however, it is clear I cannot combine both roles and therefore I am relinquishing the chair of the ICC Cricket Committee.”

The former India captain, the first player in history to top 10,000 Test runs and an ICC Cricket World Cup winner in 1983, arrived at his decision in the wake of a meeting of the ICC Board in March in Dubai.

At that meeting the Board discussed the potential for a conflict of interest for a person chairing the ICC Cricket Committee while, at the same time, working for a media outlet.

That view was conveyed to Gavaskar when he met with ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed in Dubai that month.

It was agreed Gavaskar would chair this year’s ICC Cricket Committee and would then convey his views to the ICC, something he has now done.

The ICC’s acting Chief Executive Dave Richardson said: “We are indebted to the work Sunil has put into his role as Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee.

“He has brought his vast experience of the game to bear, not only over the eight years of his chairmanship but also the six years prior to that, when he was a delegate on the same committee.

“Having someone of Sunil’s stature involved has to be of benefit to the game and given the ICC’s lengthy relationship with him we hope we can still utilize his knowledge in some other capacity in the future.”

A decision on Gavaskar’s successor will be made in due course, the ICC said.