CA chairman laments Speed' departure

Sydney, Apr 27 (UNI) Cricket Australia (CA) Chairman Creagh O'Connor expressed his regret at the ouster of Malcolm Speed from the post of ICC chief executive.

''As Chairman of Cricket Australia, I note with regret that Malcolm Speed's distinguished career as an international cricket administrator has ended in the manner in which it has,'' O'Connor said in a statement here.

''I have worked with Malcolm for many years during his time as Chief Executive Officer of the then Australian Cricket Board and, for the last seven years, as Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC),'' he added. ''I know first-hand of the dispassionate, professional and diligent manner in which he has sought for cricket to achieve high standards of administrative excellence.'' The CA chief criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC), saying diverse interests within the world body is hurting the interests of the game.

''As many have noted in the last few days, administering the ICC, which features a diverse global constituency, is a challenging task,'' he stated.

''Cricket is becoming a genuinely global sport and will only have a long-term, sustainable future if the diverse interests within the game can put the game's interests ahead of any other interests.'' UNI XC AB PM1818