South African offered ICC top job
Brad Morgan
18 March 2008The International Cricket Council could be headed up by a South African from July. The CEO of SuperSport, Imtiaz Patel, has been asked to succeed Australia's Malcolm Speed as the CEO of world cricket's governing body.
No contract has yet been signed, but the offer has been extended, and it appears from the tone of comments coming from the ICC's top brass that negotiating the terms of a deal will happen soon, followed by Patel signing on the dotted line.
Patel has played, and continues to play, a major role in South African sport, both in administration and broadcasting.
He joined the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) - now Cricket South Africa (CSA) - in 1991 and worked for the organisation from 1991 to 1999, firstly as the director of development, and then as the director of professional cricket.
During his time with the UCBSA, Patel worked closely with Ali Bacher, who was the CEO. Current ICC President Ray Mali says Patel and Bacher played an important role in unifying people, and that this is one of the SuperSport CEO's strengths.
Patel joined SuperSport in 2000 as the director of enterprises. Later, in 2003, he became the director of productions. Two years later, in 2005, he was appointed CEO.
Patel is a member of the board of the Premier Soccer League, as well as a director of the SuperSport United Football Club, SuperSport Sports Holdings (Pty) Ltd, SuperSport International Holdings, and the Sharks and Cheetahs rugby franchises.
India, which has a very strong representation in the International Cricket Council, pushed for I.S. Bindra to be elected to the position of CEO, but the ICC warned that he could be barred from taking up the post because of his age.
The law in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where the ICC is based, prevents people over 60 from occupying certain positions; special clearances would have had to be obtained for Bindra to head up the ICC.
Due to this stance, some consider Patel a compromise candidate, but his record speaks for itself; he is a hugely successful administrator.
Ray Mali feels Patel, who has been offered an initial contract of three years, will be able to take cricket to the next level.
ICC president-elect David Morgan believes Patel will accept the post and says he is looking forward to working with him. He says the SuperSport CEO would bring diversified skills and knowledge to the ICC that would benefit the game of cricket.
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