Najam Sethi withdraws ICC presidency nomination

Former PCB chairman offers the post to a former 'iconic Test cricketer'

KARACHI: Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi has taken back his candidature for the post of the International Cricket Council (ICC) President, enabling a former Test cricketer to take up the largely ceremonial post.

Sethi is currently the head of PCB's executive committee and he made the decision after in its previous board meeting ICC advised its member to nominate former cricketers for the post of presidency from 2016.

I have decided to step aside from ICC Presidency. I request PCB to nominate a great ex Test Cricketer for this position in spirit of game.

— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) June 1, 2015

After the success of #CricketComesHome and in the spirit of revival, it is time to honour a cricketing GREAT from Pak as next ICC Prez.

— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) June 1, 2015

Sethi was picked instead of Test cricketer after a 'consensus' within the board.

Sethi wrote to ICC that he was thankful for being considered for the post but he would like a Test cricketer to instead take the post.

"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,” Sethi wrote to the ICC.

“However, since the ICC announcement that from next year the post of the ICC president will be open only to iconic Test cricketers nominated by member Boards, 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 ICC Presidency with immediate effect and requesting the Board of Governors of the Pakistan Cricket Board to nominate an great Pakistani ex-Test cricketer in my place,” said Sethi.

Former ICC president Mustafa Kamal of Bangladesh resigned in April as ICC president after criticising umpires for his country's loss against India in the quarterfinals of the 2015 World Cup. The ICC was to consider Sethi's appointment later this month at a board meeting in Barbados.