By IANS
Johannesburg : Imtiaz Patel, who was selected by the International Cricket Council to succeed Malcolm Speed as its chief executive, Tuesday thanked the world governing body for offering him the job, but said he was still weighing the options. “I would accept the offer only after a careful consideration.”
“I am humbled that the ICC has stated that it will invite me to fulfil such an important role within cricket, a sport that has a very special place in my heart,” he said in a statement.
At the same time, he said he enjoyed a most rewarding and happy career in his current job as CEO of SuperSport which is a dynamic organization.
“I will therefore be considering my position very carefully during the coming weeks and will be engaging in discussions with the ICC during this period. Patel, a South African of Indian origin, said he considered it a great honour to be preferred by the ICC to take over as CEO.
“In the interests of the confidentiality of all candidates, I feel that it will be inappropriate to make any further public comment about the ICC post, prior to the finalisation of the process.
The ICC Executive Board Monday has approved Patel’s name after a four-member sub-committee had earlier picked him from a worldwide choice.
ICC President Ray Mali and President-elect David Morgan announced Monday that the 13-member Board unanimously approved Patel’s name for the post.