With just three weeks remaining until the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy, ICC CEO Geoff Allardice has stepped down from his position. The announcement was made by ICC Chairman Jay Shah through a media release on Tuesday night.
While no official reason has been provided for Allardice’s resignation, reports suggest that he faced mounting pressure from the ICC board due to mishandling funds during the 2022 T20 World Cup in the USA and the messy preparations for the Champions Trophy. According to reports, Allardice failed to inform the board that two venues in Rawalpindi and Karachi would not be ready in time for the Champions Trophy.
The resignation follows a series of high-profile departures within the ICC after the T20 World Cup. ICC’s Head of Events Chris Tetley, General Manager of Marketing and Communications Claire Furlong, and Head of the Anti-Corruption Unit Alex Marshall all stepped down in the wake of controversies surrounding the event.
The audit for the T20 World Cup is still ongoing, with many uncomfortable questions being raised. “Allardice was supposed to oversee the preparation of the stadiums in Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. While the venues are being revamped, they are still not ready. The ICC board was not pleased with this situation,” the source told TOI.
The ICC now faces a significant restructuring process. It is still unclear whether Allardice’s resignation is effective immediately. However, the ICC’s statement confirmed that the Board will begin the process of identifying his replacement.
In his official statement, Jay Shah expressed his gratitude for Allardice’s leadership, saying, “On behalf of the ICC Board, I want to sincerely thank Geoff for his leadership and commitment during his tenure as Chief Executive. His efforts have played a key role in advancing cricket globally. We are truly grateful for his service and wish him all the very best in his future endeavors.”