The former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and sitting member of the Board of Governors has withdrawn his nomination to the International Cricket Council presidency and also told the board to pick "a great Pakistani" ex-Test cricketer in his place.
In a letter to International Cricket Council President N. Srinivasin, Najam Sethi wrote, "Since the ICC [International Cricket Council] announcement that from next year the post of ICC president will be open only to iconic Test cricketers nominated by board members, I have increasingly felt that it is only fitting that this rule should be implemented straightaway so that one of Pakistan's great iconic cricketers should be so honoured."
Following is the detailed text of the letter to International Cricket Council Chairman Srinivasin, "I am writing to thank you and the other members of the ICC for nominating me as ICC President for 2015-16. It is a great honour that I shall always cherish. However, since the ICC announcement that from next year the post of ICC president will be open only to iconic test cricketers nominated by the board members, I have increasingly felt that it is only fitting that this rule should be implemented straightaway so that one of Pakistan's great iconic cricketers should be so honoured. Under the circumstances, I am withdrawing my nomination to the ICC presidency with immediate effect and requesting the Board of Governors of the Pakistan Cricket Board to nominate a great Pakistani ex-test cricketer in my place.
"I apologise for this belated decision and any inconvenience caused to the ICC. But I am sure all ICC members will appreciate the spirit in which I have taken this decision. Once again, let me thank you and all ICC members profusely for the trust and confidence that they reposed in me when electing me earlier this year as ICC president for 2015-16."
AFP adds: The post of ICC president has become largely ceremonial after the body passed reforms last year which made the chairman the head of the organisation.
The role now rotates among member countries who nominate people for the post. Sethi had been due to take over from Bangladesh's Mustafa Kamal, who had a bitter falling out with the ICC in March. Kamal levelled serious allegations against the umpires in Bangladesh's quarter-final defeat against India in the World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, accusing them of bias towards India and he resigned in protest in April. The post has remained vacant as Bangladesh did not nominate a replacement. The PCB said it will nominate another candidate in due course. Former captains Zaheer Abbas, Majid Khan and Asif Iqbal are seen as front runners for the nomination.
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