Mubashshir Usmani becomes Chair of Associate Members in ICC meeting; Imran Khawaja and Mahinda Vallipuram elected as Directors

The International Cricket Council's (ICC) Annual Conference revealed the results of the Associate Member Directors election, introducing two new faces to the board for the next two years. Mubashshir Usmani from the UAE, who secured the most votes, will become the new Chair of Associate Members.

Mubashshir Usmani, the general secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board, secured the most votes (23) in the recent elections. Imran Khawaja of Singapore, who previously held the chair, received 20 votes. Khawaja failed to maintain his position on the board as chair. Mahinda Vallipuram also won with 13 votes.

Pankaj Khimji Loses Position After Receiving Just 7 Votes

Pankaj Khimji, the head of Oman Cricket, was a notable loser in the election, receiving only 11 votes. Neil Speight of Bermuda, with 12 votes, and Khimji will make way for Mubashshir Usmani and Mahinda Vallipuram on the board. The newly elected members will serve a two-year term on the ICC Board.

11 candidates competed for the three directors' posts. Mahmood Gaznavi (4 votes), Sankar Renganathan (4 votes), Rudie van Vuuren (6), Gurumurthy Palani (9), Stephen Musaele (11), and Sam Arthur (1) contested but did not win. All Associate Members and Regional Representatives cast their votes for the directors.

Mubashshir Usmani To Become ICC's Vice Chairman

Traditionally, the associate director with the most votes becomes the vice chairman within the ICC. Mubashshir Usmani will take on the ICC's vice chairman role. The ICC's Annual General Meeting (AGM) is ongoing in Colombo from July 19 to 22, where additional important decisions and discussions will take place.

Mubashshir Usmani's victory was unexpected given his loss in the same election two years ago. However, the UAE cricket head was a strong contender due to his role in running the International League T20 (ILT20) in the UAE. The ILT20 mandates all teams to include Associate players in their playing XI.

USA Cricket to Face Suspension in ICC Annual Conference?

Discussions at the ICC Annual Conference in Colombo will focus on USA Cricket’s future, with particular attention on the recent T20 World Cup held in the West Indies and the USA. There are concerns that USA Cricket might face a notice of suspension due to non-compliance with ICC Associate Member protocols.

Attention is focused on the Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) meeting on the second day, where representatives will likely ask challenging questions. This scrutiny is expected to continue on the third day as well during the Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee.

ICC officials have stated that the Board will decide any potential action against USA Cricket (USAC). Venu Piskie, the head of USAC, is unaware of any action being considered. The ICC prioritizes the USA, which has successfully included cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

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