The ICC on Wednesday deferred a decision on the planned scrapping of the rotational system of presidency but asked next-in-line Pakistan and Bangladesh not to nominate a candidate till a review of its governance structure before the next Executive Board meeting in October.
"The ICC Executive Board, following the strategic plan that was adopted in April and a firm recommendation from the Governance Review Committee today, unanimously agreed to undertake urgently an independent review of the ICC governance structures and processes.
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"The Board therefore decided to defer the proposed constitutional amendment to the nominations process for election of the ICC President and accordingly withdrew its proposal to the Annual Conference in this regard," the governing body said, after the penultimate day of its annual conference.
The ICC Governance Review Committee had recommended that a wide-ranging, independent review should cover all governance-related matters including the possibility of appointing independent directors.
"The review will be required to be completed before the next ICC Executive Board meeting scheduled for October.
"In the meantime, both the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the Pakistan Cricket Board have given undertakings not to nominate a candidate for ICC Vice-President before the external review is completed and the matter is again considered by the ICC Executive Board."
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said the review is needed to improve administration in the body.
"I wholeheartedly welcome an independent review of the entire ICC governance and regard this as a major step to meet stakeholder expectations and the high standards of a world-class organisation," he said.
Among other decisions taken on Wednesday, the Pakistan Task Team presented a report comprising 63 recommendations covering areas of governance, cricket administration, playing structure, financial viability and communications.
The PTT comprises Giles Clarke (chairman), Mike Brearley, Peter Chingoka, Haroon Lorgat (ICC Chief Executive), Ranjan Madugalle, Ramiz Raja, and David Richardson (ICC General Manager - Cricket).
"The report was adopted unanimously by the ICC Board and I am pleased that the PCB will consider this report at its next Board meeting," Lorgat said.
The ICC Executive Board also received a request from the PCB to consider hosting an ICC event in Pakistan in 2018.
But no discussion was held and "no assurances were given as the ICC has no confirmed event currently scheduled for 2018".
"We fully understand the PCB request and we will consider if it is possible to host an event in Pakistan subject to the standard safety and security clearances," said Lorgat.
The Board also discussed at length the World Cup held in the sub-continent. Though it hailed the event as a success, the ICC expressed its unhappiness at the fact that stadiums such as the Eden Gardens in Kolkata struggled to meet completion deadlines.
"Although the event was universally acclaimed as a success and one of the best cricket events in history, the report highlighted certain shortcomings around ticketing and stadia construction.
"Based on a recommendation from the Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee, the ICC Executive Board confirmed a revised policy that stadia hosting ICC global events must be match-ready at least six months before the event," it said.
