ICC Appoints Devajit Saikia to Head Governance Review Committee

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday appointed Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia as the chair of its newly formed Governance Review Committee during its Annual Meetings in Singapore. The committee has been established to review and strengthen the ICC's governance framework, marking a significant responsibility for the Indian cricket administrator within the global governing body. The ICC also announced several key administrative decisions, including financial support for Cricket West Indies and updates on the status of multiple member boards.

Saikia will head the Governance Review Committee alongside Dr Mohammed Moosajee of Cricket South Africa and Dr Ros Rivaz, the ICC's newly appointed Independent Director. In addition to this role, Saikia has also been named a member of the newly constituted Franchise Leagues Committee, which will be chaired by former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal. Other members of the Franchise Leagues Committee include Dr Rudie van Vuuren of Cricket Namibia, Richard Gould of the England and Wales Cricket Board, and Todd Greenberg of Cricket Australia.

During the Annual Meetings, the ICC also approved a loan of USD 12.82 million to Cricket West Indies (CWI) to support the board's financial operations. The funding is intended to assist CWI, which has been facing challenges related to regular cash flow. The decision reflects the ICC's continued efforts to provide financial stability to member boards encountering operational difficulties while ensuring the long-term development of international cricket.

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The governing body also reviewed the progress made by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in implementing a revised constitution. In its official statement, the ICC reiterated the need for SLC to conduct elections at the earliest opportunity and confirmed that the board would continue to remain unrepresented at ICC Board meetings until the required governance conditions are fulfilled. The matter remains under review as the ICC monitors developments within Sri Lanka Cricket.

Among other decisions, the ICC ratified the appointment of Bangladesh Cricket Board President Tamim Iqbal as the Full Member Director on the ICC Board. The council also approved Mauritius as its 111th member, further expanding the global reach of international cricket. However, Cricket Canada will remain suspended until it satisfies the stipulated governance and compliance requirements set out by the ICC.

The ICC also placed France Cricket on notice for breaches of its Membership Criteria, signalling continued oversight of governance standards across its member associations. The series of decisions taken during the Annual Meetings highlights the ICC's focus on strengthening governance, improving financial sustainability among member boards and ensuring greater accountability across international cricket as the sport continues to expand globally.

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