Srinivasan confirmed ICC Chairman

N Srinivasan, the BCCI president-in-exile, has been confirmed as the new Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Currently suspended by the Supreme Court of India pending corruption investigations into the match-fixing and betting charges around the 2013 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Srinivasan was widely tipped to become the new chairman of the ICC after receiving support from major boards such as England, Australia and New Zealand.

Srinivasan was named as the new ICC chairman after the 52-member council approved amendments to the ICC's Memorandum and Articles of Association during the ongoing annual conference in Melbourne on Thursday. Srinivasan was nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and will assume charge following the conclusion of the ICC conference on June 28th.

The approval of the constitutional changes, which followed from an ICC resolution in Singapore on February 8th and ratified on April 10th, also means that a new executive committee will be formed, and that committee will be reporting to the ICC board. The initial chair of the Executive Committee will be Cricket Australia's Chairman, Wally Edwards, while the Chair of the ICC's Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee (F&CA) will continued to be headed by Giles Clarke, the Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Srinivasan said it was a honour to become the ICC Chairman and promised to look after the interests of the game. He also said the ICC will be playing a leading role in the promotion and globalization of the game. "It is an honour to be confirmed as the Chairman of the International Cricket Council," said Mr Srinivasan, adding: "I will leave no stone unturned in trying to strengthen the pillars and foundations of our sport, both on and off the field. I want to ensure that cricket retains and grows its popularity, and that the ICC plays a leading role in this global growth.

The BCCI termed Srinivasan's appointment as a 'proud and historic moment' for Indian cricket.

"As India takes the leadership position in World Cricket, the responsibility of guiding the game in these challenging times could not have found a better leader than Mr. Srinivasan. This establishes the important role that the BCCI will essay, as we take this responsibility to work with other members during these days of growth," Sanjay Patel, the Honorary Secretary of the BCCI said in a statement.