THE ICC Board elected three new Associate Member Directors at the Annual Conference in Edinburgh. Gurumurthy Palani topped the ballot with 35 votes, while Mubashshir Usmani and Dr Rudie van Vuuren secured 26 votes each to claim the three available positions.
Long-serving Deputy Chair, Imran Khwaja, finished fourth with 23 votes, missing out on re-election in one of the biggest surprises of the vote. Mahinda Vallipuram polled 19 votes.
Palani and van Vuuren join the 17-member ICC Board for the first time, while Usmani returns for a second consecutive term. All three will serve two-year terms. Khwaja’s defeat creates a vacancy in the role of ICC Deputy Chair, with one of the newly elected directors expected to be appointed to the position before the conference concludes.
A total of 43 Associate Members were eligible to vote, with USA Cricket and Cricket Canada suspended from ICC membership.
ICC said, “The result will require an election for Gurumurthy Palani’s position on the Chief Executives’ Committee as he is unable to hold both positions.”
ICC Chairman Jay Shah said, “I congratulate Gurumurthy Palani, Mubashshir Usmani and Dr Rudie van Vuuren on their election as Associate Member Directors to the ICC Board. Associate Members play a vital role in the continued growth and global expansion of our sport, and I look forward to working closely with them as we build on the strong progress being made across all regions.”
Shah acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing representatives during their time serving Associate Members on the Board.
He further added, “I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to Imran Khwaja and Mahinda Vallipuram for their dedication and service to Associate cricket. Their contribution to the ICC and to the development of the global game over many years has been significant and deeply valued. Together, we remain committed to strengthening opportunities for all Members and ensuring cricket continues to grow in every corner of the world.”
Further decisions at the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh, including the appointment of a new Deputy Chair and a replacement for Palani on the Chief Executives’ Committee, are expected before the event concludes on July 11.
