Lord Woolf to head ICC review
CRICKET: LONDON, Aug 6 (AFP) - Lord Harry Woolf, formerly one
of England’s top judges, will lead an independent review into the
governance of the International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport’s
ruling body said Thursday. Woolf, who until 2005 was the Lord Chief
Justice in England, the country’s senior criminal judge, will look at
the way the ICC handles investigations into corruption and its code of
ethics.
He will also examine the way in which the ICC nominates and elects
its president after a constitutional change to the system was discussed
at last month’s council meeting in Hong Kong.
The current system, which sees the full-member nations nominate
candidates on a rotational basis, has come under the spotlight after
former Australian prime minister John Howard, Australia and New
Zealand’s choice last year, was vetoed from taking on the role by
opposition from several other nations.“It is a privilege to be invited
to undertake this important review that has implications for the whole
sport of cricket,” said Woolf. “I intend to conduct the independent
review in a thorough and transparent manner that will draw on
experiences and good practices from within and outside cricket,” added
Woolf, who has not announced a deadline by which time his report will be
completed.
“I will seek to deliver a report across the wide brief that I have
been set as soon as is practicable, noting — of course — the need for
effective consultation and the consideration of various viewpoints
before any recommendations can be finalised.” ICC chief executive Haroon
Lorgat added: “There can be no doubt that, in Lord Woolf, the ICC Board
has appointed a personality with enormous experience and reputation...It
shows how seriously we are taking this exercise.” |