LAHORE: For the first time in 35 years, there was no representation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at the Annual General Meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which was held in Lahore on Saturday.
Reported reason: The strained political climate between India and Pakistan.
At the AGM, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon was elected ACC president, replacing Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani.
Papon, who is the third Bangladeshi to assume the top post, will serve a two-year term.
Commenting on his new role, Papon said: “I am honoured to take over the coveted role of ACC president. My foremost endeavour would be to bring the Asian cricket playing countries together and promote the sport around the region. The Asian wing is right now the strongest as far as international cricket is concerned with as many as five Test playing nations and two countries with ODI status.
“I have already been associated with ACC for a number of years and I hope my experience will help me in taking the ACC to greater heights in unison with all member countries.”
In the AGM, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh agreed to play the Emerging Asia Cup in Pakistan between December 7 and 9. Other pool matches will be played in Sri Lanka where India will play their matches. The final match of the tournament will also be played in Sri Lanka.
Barring the notable absence of a BCCI office bearer, 33 members from different Asian countries, along with David Richardson, the CEO of ICC, attended the meeting in Pakistan.
It was in September 1983 that the cricket boards of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Singapore met in New Delhi and formed the Asian Cricket Conference. The name was changed to Asian Cricket Council in 1993.
