Shashank Manohar, who was elected unopposed as independent ICC Chairman last year, shocked everyone by resigning from his post on March 15 citing personal reasons. The decision will be effective immediately. He has helmed the post of ICC Chairman from 2016 after he stepped down as BCCI President. One of the main reasons for his resignations might be his recent efforts to take power off the Big Three—Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia (CA), England Cricket Board (ECB).
According to a leading news publishing website, the two-time BCCI President had resigned because he could not implement Lodha Committee recommendations due to which ex-President of BCCI Anurag Thakur was sacked earlier in 2017 by Supreme Court. The recommendations from RM Lodha Panel were tough for Manohar to implement.
He recently did not express his views on Steven Smith’s ‘brain fade’ or ‘Dressing Room Review System’ in Bengaluru Test for which ICC was heavily criticised.
Manohar has worked as a prominent lawyer in India. He has also lent his services to BCCI as President in a four-year tenure from 2008 to 2011. He started his second inning as BCCI President after the death of Jagmohan Dalmiya due to which Manohar had to head BCCI once again.
Manohar, in his letter to ICC’s CEO David Richardson, asked to be relieved of his duties as he could not hold the office. He also mentioned to step down from the post with immediate effect.
What seems to be non-digestible is that he cited personal reasons for stepping down from the post, trying to cover-up the main reason for his resignation.
Manohar was also opposed by Thakur last year for imparting more money that he deemed necessary for ICC Champions Trophy 2017 to be held in England.
