|| Desk report ||

Former South African skipper Graeme Smith has thrown his weight behind the former India captain and the incumbent president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Sourav Ganguly for the post of the ICC chairman.

Smith tipped Ganguly as the ideal candidate to lead the International Cricket Council (ICC) as its next chairman at a time of crisis caused the novel coronavirus worldwide pandemic.

“It is very important to have the right person as the head of the ICC,” said Graeme Smith, who recently appointed ‘director of cricket’ in Cricket South Africa (CSA).

“In the post-COVID era, cricket will need strong leadership and it is time for someone close to the modern game with leadership credentials to get into the position,” Smith added.

The current ICC chairman Shashank Manohar, who is also an Indian whose tenure will be finished in May, said last December that he would not seek re-election when his term expires.

Speaking in a tele-conference, Smith made his strong call for Ganguly’s election after Cricket South Africa interim chief director Jacques Faul said plans for South Africa to host a three-match Twenty20 series against India in late August remained on track, although it would require approval from both governments in view of COVID-19.

Faul said that the dates could change and that “if necessary” the matches would be played without spectators. Faul said that he welcomed Smith’s call for Ganguly to head the ICC, but cautioned that it was not yet official policy endorsed by the CSA board. 

Dr Shuaib Manjra, CSA’s chief medical officer, said a T20 series would be an ideal opportunity to create what he described as a spectator-free “bio bubble” in which the health of players and officials was paramount.

He acknowledged that under current conditions, a 14-day quarantine period, both before and after a tour, would be necessary for players.