Speed departs ICC early

25 April 2008

Speed spent seven years at the head of world cricket's government © Getty Images

ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed has been placed on paid leave until his contract expires in July.

Speed, who was due to hand over to South Africa’s Haroon Lorgat at the ICC’s annual conference on July 4, will be replaced in the interim by David Richardson, currently ICC general manager - cricket.

Lorgat was elected chief executive earlier in April.

The ICC said in a statement: “The ICC president, Ray Mali, and the chief executive officer Malcolm Speed, have agreed that Malcolm Speed will be on paid leave from April 30 2008 until the end of his contract term on July 4 2008.

“This change of plan is the result of a fundamental breakdown in the relationship between the CEO and a number of board members, including the president, over a variety of issues that include Zimbabwe.

“Mr David Richardson will serve as interim CEO until Mr Speed’s replacement, Mr Haroon Lorgat, assumes the role at the ICC’s annual conference at the beginning of July.”

Speed, 59, a former chief executive of the Australian Cricket Board, replaced Richardson as ICC chief executive in July 2001.