Manu Sawhney to be ICC's new chief executive after 2019 World Cup

The appointment was ratified by the ICC Board following a global search and appointment process led by ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar and the Nominations Committee © Getty

Manu Sawhney will take over from Dave Richardson as International Cricket Council's new chief executive from June. Sawhney, who has previously served as the CEO of Singapore Sports Hub and Managing Director of ESPN Star Sports, will join the organisation in mid-February before taking over the reins in July 2019, following the 2019 Men's World Cup.

The appointment was ratified by the ICC Board following a global search and appointment process led by ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar and the Nominations Committee. "I am delighted to confirm Manu's appointment today," Manohar said. "He brings 22 years of outstanding commercial experience to the ICC and will lead the delivery of our new global growth strategy for the game. Our search produced a host of excellent candidates from around the world, but Manu stood out as the man to work with our Members and take cricket forward."

"He has proven success in a number of leadership roles in both sport and broadcasting. He is a strategic thinker and understands the cricket landscape and its complexities. The decision of the Nominations Committee to recommend Manu to the Board was a unanimous one and I and my fellow directors are looking forward to working with him."

Sawhney, who has worked with ESPN Star Sports for 17 years, was responsible for leading the global broadcast partnership deal with the ICC that ran from 2007-2015.

"It is a great privilege and responsibility to serve the global cricket community as CEO of the ICC," Sawhney said. "The sport has more than a billion fans and an ambitious growth strategy so it is a very exciting time to lead the organization.

"I'd like to thank the ICC Board for giving me this opportunity and look forward to working with them, our Members, the team and ICC's incredible partners and cricketers around the world to propel the sport forward into a period of significant and sustained global growth in the coming years."