International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Geoff Allardice has relinquished his post, just weeks before the Champions Trophy with a board member claiming that his failure to present a "clear picture" of host Pakistan's lack of preparation is one of the multiple reasons behind the decision.

Allardice joined the game’s apex body in 2012 as General Manager of Cricket. The 57-year-old was appointed CEO of the ICC in November 2021, after having served as acting CEO for eight months.

"It has been a privilege to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Council and I am incredibly proud of the results we have achieved, from enhancing the global reach of cricket to the commercial foundation put in place for ICC Members," Allardice said in a statement.

"I believe this is the right time for me to step down and pursue new challenges," he added.

The official ICC statement didn’t mention the exact reasons for Allardice's exit but a top source said the development has been building up for a while.

"The ICC T20 World Cup in the US was big a flop in terms of playing conditions and also it exceeded budget, the auditing is still being done," the board member told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

"What broke the camel's back was Champions Trophy where as CEO, he was supposed to give a clear picture about readiness of Pakistan to host a tourney of such magnitude," he added.

The Champions Trophy is slated to get underway on February 19, with India playing their share of matches in Dubai owing to security concerns in Pakistan.

However, the ICC is sweating over the fact that tournament venues in Karachi and Rawalpindi are still partially under construction or renovation and the images that have emerged from there do not paint a positive picture.

It remains to be seen whether Pakistan would be ready in time for the showpiece tournament, which features the world's top eight teams.

Meanwhile, ICC chairman Jay Shah lauded Allardice for his contribution to the game. "On behalf of the ICC Board, I want to sincerely thank Geoff for his leadership and commitment during his tenure as Chief Executive. His efforts have played a key role in advancing cricket globally.

"We are truly grateful for his service and wish him all the very best in his future endeavors," he said.

The ICC Board will now begin the process to find Allardice's successor. His departure follows the departure of former chair Greg Barclay's team from the ICC.

Earlier, Chris Tetley (head of events), Alex Marshall (head of Anti-Corruption Unit) and Claire Furlong (head of marketing and media) had stepped down from their positions on personal grounds.

(With PTI Inputs)