Alan Isaac named eighth ICC president

Two administrators who have excellent cricketing knowledge have been appointed to the two top posts in the International Cricket Council. The ICC Annual Conference, being held in Kuala Lumpur, yesterday confirmed the appointment of Alan Isaac as the organisation’s eighth president and David Richardson as the new chief executive. Isaac was a left-handed batsman who represented Wellington in his native New Zealand, while Richardson represented South Africa in 42 Test matches in the 1990s and was among the finest wicketkeepers in the game at that time. Speaking to Gulf News before his departure to Kuala Lumpur, Isaac had announced his aim of increasing the popularity of the game. “We will continue to review all three formats of the game and make sure not to get complacent,” he said.“We are lucky to have three very popular forms of the game from the shorter, exciting version that attracts a particular crowd, to the Test match, which obviously has got a lot of history and probably attracts a different crowd. We are lucky that each form of the game is in great shape.” In his first speech after taking charge from Sharad Pawar on Thursday, Isaac again stressed the importance of the three formats. “We are fortunate as a sport — indeed unique — to have three different formats at international level. “We will all strive not only to preserve those formats but to build on their foundations. In that way the ICC will continue to oversee a great sport and we will all work to make it even greater.” Isaac, who can speak with authority on the various technicalities of the game, also said: “In the midst of my pride at being chosen as president, I recognise that there is, of course, much hard work and much progress needed if we are to maintain the game’s current healthy state. “I believe that the challenges ahead are no less daunting than those we have faced in the last two years if we are to maintain the vibrancy and viability of the three formats of the sport.” Isaac will serve a two-year term as the president before the post will become a one-year ceremonial position. A new role of chairman of the ICC and IDI Board will be created from the end of the 2014 Annual Conference. The term of office will be two years and the chairman will be appointed by the board at its first meeting following the 2014 Annual Conference. The ICC also confirmed Russia and Hungary as new affiliate members of the ICC. The world cricket governing body now consists of 106 members. from gulfnews.com