The balance of power in cricket’s global governance could shift once again, as eight Associate Member candidates compete for three coveted spots on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC). With the election set for July 17 at the ICC Annual General Meeting in Singapore, the race highlights the ambitions, challenges, and emerging voices within the Associate cricket world.
High stakes, big voices
The CEC, charged with promoting and regulating the sport at the international level, is a highly sought-after platform for Associate leaders. It offers rare access to the decision-making corridors dominated by Full Members—and can act as a stepping stone to the powerful ICC Board.
Among the candidates is Botswana’s Sumod Damodar, the only incumbent seeking re-election. With three previous terms under his belt, Damodar is aiming to extend his influence. He told Tristan Lavalette of Forbes, “There are many things that are currently on the cards and of agreed upon but not put into place, like the high performance programme.”
Damodar has been a vocal advocate for reinstating the ICC’s high performance initiative, which previously offered development pathways for top Associate nations. He sees it as key to bridging the divide between Associates and smaller Full Members like Ireland, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe.
He also emphasized critical on-field priorities: “There are also lots of on-field issues that need to be sorted like better pathways for umpires at the Associate level and smoothing procedures for those cited for suspect bowling actions,” Damodar added.
Damodar expressed confidence in his candidacy, telling Cricbuzz: “The nominees contesting for the CEC are worthy opponents, in their own right, albeit two of the incumbents do not feature. As the only incumbent in the race and having served previously on CEC, I truly hope that my credentials and experience would merit the required support to achieve the desired successful outcome.”
He added, “I have always maintained that representation at any level requires unequivocal neutrality and absolute commitment to serve without any bias. The diversity among Associate Members is also such an exciting environment, and the efforts to unite all corners of the globe are excellent challenges. I hope to continue my efforts to voice the concerns and needs of the AMs, if given an opportunity to do so.”
New contenders, fresh perspectives
Damodar is joined in the race by a diverse field:
- Tim Cutler (Vanuatu), the former CEO of Hong Kong Cricket,
- Sankar Renganathan (Sierra Leone), former administrator with USA Cricket,
- Anuraag Bhatnagar (Hong Kong),
- Sarah Gomersall (Jersey),
- Gurdeep Klair (Canada),
- Gurumurthy Palani (France), and
- Stella Vaea Tagitau (Samoa).
While Rashpal Bajwa (Canada) and Umair Butt (Denmark) have opted not to seek re-election, the new candidates reflect growing ambition among Associate nations.
Renganathan, known for his outspoken criticism of governance failures in USA Cricket, brings grassroots credibility through his ongoing work in Sierra Leone. “I want to make sure we have the right people sitting in the room, so that the 96 countries are properly voiced,” he said as quoted by Forbes. “It’s important to be transparent and try to spread funds to all members and try to develop cricket because great things can happen like what we’re seeing in Sierre Leone.”
Governance in flux
The CEC election comes at a sensitive time for the ICC. The recent elevation of Jay Shah as ICC Chair and the expected appointment of Sanjog Gupta as CEO signal India’s growing dominance in cricket governance. India already receives 38.5% of the ICC’s annual revenue distribution—around $600 million—while the 96 Associate nations share just 2%.
This inequity has fueled renewed calls for better representation and more equitable funding structures. For many of the Associate candidates, a seat on the CEC is not just about prestige but about influencing these critical discussions.
Voting process and next steps
The election will be decided by 45 eligible voters: 40 Associate Members and five regional representatives (Americas, Asia, Europe, East Asia-Pacific, and Africa). Each voter selects three candidates. The elected members will serve two-year terms and also participate in the ICC’s Associate Member Committee.
As the election approaches, the cricket industry will be watching closely. The outcome could shape the strategic direction of Associate cricket for years to come—and perhaps, gradually, shift the sport’s broader power dynamics.
