NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – International Cricket Council chief executive Manu Sawhney has been sent on holiday after an investigation by an independent audit firm revealed damaging perceptions about his style of working.
Sawhney, the former managing director of ESPN Star Sports, joined the world governing body in Dubai in January, 2019, succeeding David Richardson of South Africa, who served as chief executive for seven years.
An ICC spokeswoman confirmed to Reuters that Sawhney had not been coming to the office, and that a process had been initiated to deal with the matter.
Sawhney’s name was missing from Wednesday’s governing body statement confirming a change of venue for the World Test Championship. Instead the ICC quoted Geoff Allardice, the General Manager, Cricket, in his statement.
The internal probe was conducted in February and an anonymous survey revealed problems with his working style, media reports said.
The former chief executive of the Singapore Sports Hub was with ESPN Star Sports for 17 years and during his tenure led the global broadcast partnership deal with the ICC that ran from 2007-15.
He was also a non-executive director and a member of the audit committee at Manchester United Premier League football club.