ICC CEO Geoff Allardice steps down from his post after spending four years at the helm since his appointment in 2020.
ICC CEO Geoff Allardice has resigned after four years in the role, citing a desire to “pursue new challenges”.
After his predecessor, Manu Sawhney, was suspended eight months earlier, Allardice took over as temporary CEO and was officially named CEO in November 2021. After a stint with Cricket Australia, he began his career with the ICC in 2012 as the general manager of cricket.
“It has been a privilege to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Council,” Allardice said. “I am incredibly proud of the results we have achieved, from enhancing the global reach of cricket to the commercial foundation put in place for ICC Members.
“I’d like to thank the ICC Chair, the board of directors and [the] entire cricket community for their support and collaboration over the past 13 years. I believe this is the right time for me to step down and pursue new challenges. I am confident that cricket has exciting times ahead, and I wish the ICC and the global cricket community every success in the future.”
Early in Jay Shah’s tenure as ICC chair, Allardice made the choice to resign. On December 1, Shah, the former BCCI secretary, succeeded Greg Barclay.
Allardice was a crucial administrator at the ICC, but like his predecessor Dave Richardson, he kept a quieter profile as CEO than predecessors like Haroon Lorgat or Malcolm Speed. He can particularly point to several noteworthy accomplishments from his time as general manager of cricket, including resolving the BCCI’s initial reservations about DRS and seeing to it that it was adopted as the norm for the international game.
Getting cricket into the Olympic Games was one of his biggest accomplishments as CEO, and it may have long-term effects on the game’s development. Last year’s T20 international Cup, the first ICC international event held in the USA, should have been a similarly landmark event in the development of the sport. However, the tournament’s operations have since been audited, and board members have voiced dissatisfaction with the way it was conducted.
“On behalf of the ICC Board, I want to sincerely thank Geoff for his leadership and commitment during his tenure as Chief Executive,” Shah said. “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 endeavours.”
In a statement, the ICC stated that its board will “initiate the next steps to identify” Allardice’s successor. However, the organisation did not specify whether Allardice would be departing immediately or if he would remain until the conclusion of the Champions Trophy in February or March.
Following the recent resignation of Claire Furlong (general manager of marketing and communication), Chris Tetley (head of events), and Alex Marshall (director of anti-corruption), Allardice is the most current in a string of high-ranking ICC management departures.