SLC to promote Sangakkara in a big way at the ICC

By BIPIN DANI

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will promote former Captain Kumar Sangakkara in a ‘big way’ for a top post in the International Cricket Council (ICC). This was revealed by the Secretary of SLC Mohan de Silva yesterday. 
“We are waiting for Sangakkara’s term to be over as President of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Once his term is over there, we have a plan to utilise his knowledge at the SLC. We also want to promote him for a big post in the ICC.”  

Asked whether the SLC is eyeing the ICC chairman post for him, the Secretary replied in affirmative. 
“Yes, that is also the strongest possibility. All these years, there has been no ICC president/chairman from Sri Lanka and Sanga is the ideal candidate for this post.” 

“Once we nominate him, we will seek the support from other board members,” he added. 
All these years, it was a tradition that only the president of the National cricket board occupies the top ICC post.
But the policy has been changed and there have been exceptions of non-board president occupying the top ICC chair.

In fact, the current ICC Chief Shashank Manohar was not the BCCI President when he became the ICC Chairman. He was nominated for the post (by the BCCI members) after he held the post of BCCI President twice (2008-2011) and (2015-2017). 

Even Ehsan Mani was not the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief when he was made the ICC President in 2003. 
Mani, now the PCB Chairman is also the Chairman of the ICC Finance Committee. 

So, if the SLC can gather some good support, the former wicket-keeper batsman may hold some important key position at the ICC. 

But right now, the 42-year-old Sangakkara will concentrate only on the MCC matters, where his term has been extended for another year. 

We are waiting for Sangakkara’s term to be over as President of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Once his term is over there, we have a plan to utilise his knowledge at the SLC. We also want to promote him for a big post in the ICC