Veteran administrator Shashank Manohar, who had vowed to clean Indian cricket in the wake of the IPL spot fixing scandal, today resigned from the post barely seven months into his tenure and is all set to become the first independent ICC Chairman.
The 58-year-old Manohar, who had taken over the reins of the cash-rich body for a second term following the death of Jagmohan Dalmiya, leaves the BCCI at a time when it is resisting the sweeping reforms recommended by the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha panel.
In a letter addressed to BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur, Manohar said, "I hereby tender my resignation with immediate effect from the post of President of Board of Control for Cricket in India. I also resign with immediate effect as the representative of BCCI on the International Cricket Council, as also the Asian Cricket Council on which I was nominated by the General Body of BCCI.
"I thank all my colleagues and the staff for their support and cooperation during my tenure. I wish all of you all the very best in taking the cause of Cricket to greater heights."
Manohar's exit, which was being intensely speculated, has not gone down too well with a sizable section of the BCCI top brass, which strongly feels that he has left them in the lurch.
The BCCI promptly accepted Manohar's resignation, acknowledging the "contribution" made by him in running the game during his tenure.
"The BCCI confirms that Mr. Shashank Manohar has resigned from the post of President, BCCI. He has also resigned as the BCCI representative on the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Asian Cricket Council," Thakur said in a release.
"The BCCI places on record its deep appreciation of the immense contribution to Indian cricket made by Mr. Manohar," the release stated further.
The ICC election, scheduled for June end, will be overseen by the body's independent audit committee chairman and all present and past ICC directors will be eligible to contest.
Candidates can only be nominated by a fellow ICC director and a director can make only one nomination. Any nominee with the support of at least two Full Member directors will be put forward as a candidate for chairman.
According to BCCI sources, Manohar was waiting for the Supreme Court's final verdict but since it will only come out after the apex court opens post summer vacation, the Vidarbha lawyer possibly did not want to wait.
According to reliable sources, Thakur is being tipped to take over the hot seat. IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla is also in the running along with Maharashtra CA president and business magnet Ajay Shirke.
As per BCCI rules, a Special General Meeting (SGM) has to be convened within 15 days, apprising the members of the current situation. It is the prerogative of secretary Thakur to call such a meeting.
As per norms, Manohar has also resigned from ICC chairman's post as he was a BCCI representative at the apex body and resignation in country's board effectively means that he does not stay as ICC's chairman. His tenure was supposed to end in June, 2016, after which he was set to take over as the first independent chairman of ICC.
A top BCCI administrator told
