The Ian Watmore ECB chairman resigns and will leave his role with immediate effect having served 13 months of a five-year term.
The Times
It is understood that the 63-year-old ECB chairman resigns and is leaving by mutual consent after discussions with the board of directors this week. He has been under increasing pressure since making the decision to cancel England’s tour to Pakistan, which was scheduled for later this month. That only increased after what was described to The Times as a “shambles of a meeting” with county chairmen and chief executives on September 29.
England’s men and women teams were due to play 2 T20s in Rawalpindi on October 13 and 14. The women’s team were also due to play three ODIs in Pakistan on October 17, 19, and 21.
Following England’s cancellation, which came on the heels of New Zealand pulling out of Pakistan at the eleventh hour of their own tour, Watmore apologised to Pakistanis hurt by the move.
In Watmore’s first public comments after England’s decision invited anger from the Pakistan Cricket Board and cricket fans around the globe, he said: “I’m very sorry to anyone who feels hurt or let down by our decision, particularly in Pakistan.”
“The decision the board made was an extremely difficult one and the board made it with the primary consideration being the welfare and mental health of our players and staff,” he added.
