Gavaskar to head revised ICC Cricket Committee

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar was today appointed as the chairman of the revised cricket committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Dubai, May 15 : Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar was today appointed as the chairman of the revised cricket committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Former Australia captain Mark Taylor, recently appointed Western Australia coach Tom Moody, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene and ex-West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding are among the people who will form part of the newly constituted committee.

Besides, Umpire of the Year Simon Taufel, chief ICC match referee and former Sri Lanka captain Ranjan Madugalle and Craig Wright, the former Scotland captain are also part of the 13-member committee.

Expressing happiness on the change to the Committee, ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed said in a statement: "The game of cricket now has at its disposal a group of outstanding cricket brains covering all aspects of the game and with their collective input we will be able to ensure that, moving forward, a strong sport is able to grow even stronger."

Michael Holding, who has already sat on an ICC panel of experts that examined the issue of illegal bowling actions, said: "If the ICC believes I can make a contribution to the committee then I am delighted to take part as I am always happy to be involved in anything that is for the betterment of the game."

The new committee will meet for the first time on May 30 and 31 in Dubai. Gavaskar will chair the meeting.

The new structure is designed to be representative of all interests in the modern game and replaces the previous set-up, which was made up of the nominated representatives from each of the full members of the ICC and leading associates.

The ICC Executive Board, which previously approved the recommendation of the Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) to amend the structure of the Cricket Committee, approved the personnel set to sit on it at its meeting in Cape Town in March.

The remit of the ICC Cricket Committee is to discuss and consult on any cricket-playing matters and to formulate recommendations to the CEC in this direction.

The revised committee includes; Sunil Gavaskar (Chairman), former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop and Mark Taylor (both members), Mahela Jayawardene and former Australian cricketer Tim May (both representatives of current players), Tom Moody (full member team coach representative), Duleep Mendis (Member Board representative), Simon Taufel (Umpires' representative), Ranjan Madugalle (Referees' representative), Michael Holding (media), and Craig Wright (associate representative).

ANI