Gavaskar will not be asked to step down: ICC chief

Mumbai: Any country is free to nominate its candidate for the post of ICC's cricket committee chairman, according to the president Ray Mali.

”Sunil Gavaskar will not be asked to step down but his future as cricket committee head lies with the Executive Board members. The decision will be taken in May this year," Ray Mali told Cricketnext over phone on Tuesday.

ICC CEO Malcolm Speed, however, is scheduled to speak with Sunil Gavaskar later this week, it is learnt.

The former India captain has been critical about match-referee Mike Proctor in his syndicated column. The former India captain also described England and Australia as "dinosaurs, still trying to voice their prejudiced opinions in the media, and may not open their eyes and see the reality.”

The BCCI members (Shashank Manohar and I S Bindra attended the meeting) also could not defend its stand over Gavaskar's candidature when the meeting was held recently in Dubai, it is learnt.

The term of the post is for three years but Gavaskar is holding this post since many years.

Former Pakistani skipper Majid Khan was discussed last year as a possible candidate for the 13-man panel but somehow could not get full support.

"If the PCB decides to nominate me this time, I can certainly think of taking over", Majid Khan said from Islamabad, late on Tuesday evening.

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