The International Cricket Council's all-powerful Board is set to converge via video-conference on Thursday and the primary agenda is to start the nomination process for the selection of the next ICC chairman.
Incumbent chairman Shashank Manohar’s term is coming to an end and he has not opted for an extension.
"I am still not sure whether the date of election (or selection) will be announced tomorrow or not. Obviously the primary agenda is a discussion on the nomination process for Shashank Manohar's replacement," an ICC board member.
Shashank Manohar declines extension to current term; set to step down as ICC chairman
"Obviously, since the members will meet, they will update (the board) about the situation in their respective countries. However, no concrete announcement is expected," the source added.
For being in the running for the chairman's post, a member is required to have attended a minimum of two board meetings and also needs to be nominated by a current or past director (board member) of the representative country.
The ICC board comprises a chairman, 12 Test-playing nations, three associate members (Malaysia, Scotland, and Singapore as per this turn), independent female director (Indra Nooyi), and chief executive, Manu Sawhney.
Former ECB chief Colin Graves is the front-runner for the post of ICC Chairman as per sources, but the possibility of BCCI President Sourav Ganguly being chosen is also not ruled out. Neither Ganguly nor BCCI has outrightly negated the possibility of his candidature.
However, a lot would depend on whether the Supreme Court of India accepts the Interim Application of the BCCI which pleads that the mandatory cooling-off period after six years in office is waived off for Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah.
"We still don't know whether Sourav Ganguly has any political ambitions or not. If he has, he can always be the ICC chairman for a year and then be a BJP chief ministerial candidate for the state assembly elections in West Bengal in 2021," a BCCI insider said.
However, as of now, Ganguly is unlikely to contest if he is not a unanimous choice for the post.
(PTI inputs)
