Hong Kong, June 30: In the bid to keep sports free from politics, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday, asked member countries to refrain from appointing politicians to national boards.
The ICC said the decision by its executive board at its meeting here was taken to uphold “the important principle of free elections and the independence” of the sport.
According to the board, the ICC can suspend a member country in the event of government interference in the administration of a national cricket board.
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said it is a complex issue and the council gave all the member countries 12 months to get their houses in order.
“This is a significant step towards achieving best practice and together with the independent governance review, I am excited by the commitment of the ICC to introduce best possible corporate governance,” Lorgat said.
“I do believe it is a step in the right direction, and we will work with those boards that need to unravel themselves from government departments however they may be structured,” he said.
The ICC in a statement here said that all member boards must implement the provisions before annual conference June 2012 and a further 12 months — to June 2013 — would be allowed before any sanctions against them are considered.