Imran Khwaja’s Convincing Victory Headlines ICC Associate Board Election At Cricket’s AGM

Deputy chair Imran Khwaja retained his position on the International Cricket Council (ICC) board with a convincing victory, according to sources, in the Associate Member Directors contest on Saturday to kick-start the governing body’s AGM in Birmingham.

The Singaporean easily topped the field of six with 34 votes to ensure he holds his position as Associate chair. Fellow incumbent Neil Speight was re-elected with 24 votes, while Pankaj Khimji (Oman) won a place on the all-powerful board with 24 also, according to sources.

It was a relief for Khimji, who missed out by just one vote in the last election in late 2020 and deemed this his last shot to get on the ICC board. He told me during the campaign that he hoped for greater representation on the board for the top 10 performing Associate nations, which Oman is part of.

It is a contentious issue that has caused reverberations in the Associates after last year’s ‘power grab’. Khimji will replace Mahinda Vallipuram, who has been a rising figure having influential positions on the ICC’s Olympic working group and in development at the revamped Asian Cricket Council.

Mubashshir Usmani was deemed a frontrunner after becoming a influential figure at the helm of the Emirates Cricket Board with the UAEUAE
becoming a major hub for cricket. He is heralding the UAE’s wealthy new T20 league and has formed relationships with both India and Pakistan, but suprisingly missed out on a coveted position on the board. Usmani, however, will continue to sit on the influential Chief Executives’ Committee.

Veteran Mark Stafford (Vanuatu) also missed out.

Khwaja, the long-time Associate chair who unsuccessfully ran for ICC chair during a bruising contest with Greg Barclay in 2020, continues to be a popular figure in the Associates and beyond as underlined by his overwhelming victory.

The lawyer is leading the ICC’s working group into the contentious Afghanistan situation, among other positions, and still wields considerable influence given his longevity within the governing body.

Monitoring the results closely will be Indian cricket boss Jay Shah, who according to sources is seriously considering making a run at the ICC chair later this year.

If Shah – or someone else from India – puts their hand up, it’s unlikely anyone will get in the way, including current chair Barclay, but having allies from Associates on the board is deemed important.

He should have a strong working relationship with Khimji given Oman successfully co-hosted last year’s T20 World Cup in place of India.

It is unknown who else is likely to throw their hat in the ring, but the ICC board has received a tweak as the erudite Khimji, whose family built up cricket in Oman, steps into the hot seat.