Former England women's team captain Clare Connor has been named as the next President of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Connor is all set to become the first female president in the MCC’s 233-year history.
Connor, who is currently serving as England and Wales Cricket Board's Head of Women's Cricket, will replace Kumar Sangakkara, the first non-British MCC president, who himself nominated her via video link from Sri Lanka during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday (June 24).
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The 43-year-old, current Chairman of the International Cricket Council's Women's Cricket Committee, will take up the charged Sangakkara from on October 1, 2021, subject to the membership's approval.
Connor, who has previously served as a director on the board of Sussex Cricket and Sport England., already has an honorary life member of the MCC since 2009.
The Sri Lankan great will remain in charge till next year as MCC President after being invited for a second 12-month tenure due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the global cricketing calendar.
Nominating Connor for the prestigious role, Sangakkara said: “I am thrilled that Clare has accepted the invitation to become the next President of MCC. The Club has a significant role to play in cricket’s global appeal and with her influence, I am sure she will make a considerable contribution to MCC.”
Former Sri Lanka captain, who was in charged since October 2019, further added, “With the extended lead-in time until she takes office, she will have an important part to play as President-Designate.”
Meanwhile, former women captain was thrilled to be named the next president of MCC. She said of her appointment in a statement: “I am deeply honored to be named the next president of MCC. Cricket has enriched my life so deeply already, and now it hands me this wonderful privilege.”
Connor further added, “We often need to look back to see how far we've come. I made my first visit to Lord's as a starry-eyed, cricket-obsessed nine-year-old girl at a time when women were not welcome in the Long Room (of the pavilion). Times have changed. Now I find myself entrusted with this remarkable opportunity — the opportunity to play a part in helping MCC, cricket's most influential club, to thrive and grow in an even more modern and inclusive future.”
She signed off by saying, “MCC does wonderful work for communities in the UK and overseas. It stages the most uplifting events. It brings people together. And as we take small steps to emerge from this uncertain and difficult time, we are going to need the power of sport and strong sporting organizations like MCC more than ever.”
Noteworthy, the former left-arm spinner made her England debut at 19 in 1995 and then captain her country in 2000 as well led the side to its first Ashes victory in 42 years, overseeing a 1-0 series win in 2005 before retiring from the game in 2006.
(With PTI/PA Inputs)
