ICC extends Speed's contract

Malcolm Speed, the ICC's chief executive, has extended his contract and will stay in charge at least until July 2005. Ehsan Mani, the ICC president, said that he was extremely pleased to have finalised the terms of the new agreement.

"Since taking over in July 2001, Malcolm has lead the ICC through a period of rapid and fundamental change," said Mani. "He has achieved this by working very effectively with the board and building the organisation into a body which is now achieving its stated purpose of leading international cricket. I am delighted that he has now committed to continuing this process by extending his time with the ICC through to at least July 2005."

Speed said that he was looking forward to the challenge. "The past two years has seen significant change in international cricket but there remains considerable work to be done," he said. "With the mandate that the executive board has given to the ICC to lead, promote, develop and optimise the finances of international cricket, it is a terrific time to be leading the sport and I appreciate the confidence that the president and the board have shown in me by agreeing to extend my contract."

The chief executives from the major cricket nations are meeting at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai on September 18 and 19 to address some of the key issues concerning the sport. The agenda for the ICC's Cricket Committee - Management (CC-M) will include the ICC Champions Trophy in England in September 2004, the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in February-March 2004, the suspect bowling-actions process, and performance analysis of match officials and player associations.

Speed will chair the meeting, which Mani will also attend. "I am looking forward to travelling to India for the CC-M meeting," said Mani. "There is such passion for the cricket in India which makes it a logical place for a meeting that will focus on the business of the sport."

The CC-M is one of the ICC's two cricket committees, composed of the chief executives of the ICC's ten full-member countries together with three representatives from associate-member countries. Its role is to deal with operational and management matters relating to the administration and operation of the game of cricket. It also has decision-making powers on certain issues relating to the business of cricket, and on other issues provides recommendations to the ICC board.