New Delhi, May 8: India's batting legend Sunil Gavaskar, who was facing flak for his dual role as the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman and TV commentator, has resigned from the chairmanship today.

"Media commitments made it difficult for me to fulfill dual responsibilities. However, with more and more cricket being played it has become clear that it is not possible for me to do justice to two jobs," he added. "I have thoroughly enjoyed the eight years I have held the role of ICC cricket committee chairman, which is an honorary position, and it has been extremely fulfilling to be able to give back to the game through that role," Gavaskar said. He said as an example of that, he had to leave his professional commitments as a commentator on the Indian Premier League matches in order to come and chair this year's meeting in Dubai." The executive board of the ICC had found Gavaskar's dual roles indefensible, and had authorised its then-CE0, Malcolm Speed, to ask him to convey his position when the committee met on May 5-6.

Speaking about Gavaskar's resignation, Dave Richardson, the acting CEO of the ICC, said: "We are indebted to the work Sunil has put into his role as chairman of the ICC cricket committee. He has brought his vast experience of the game to bear, not only over the eight years of his chairmanship but also the six years prior to that, when he was a delegate on the same committee."

The issue of a potential conflict of interest came in the aftermath of the Sydney Test, when Gavaskar, in his syndicated newspaper column, lashed out at match referee Mike Procter for banning Harbhajan Singh for his alleged racial abuse.

Meanwhile, the ICC is yet to decide on Gavaskar's replacement.

ANI