New Delhi, March 25: Sunil Gavaskar is to be asked to step down as ICC cricket committee chairman due to a conflict of interests between his honorary post and paid role as a columnist and commentator.

The decision had the full support of ICC (International Cricket Council) members at last week's executive board meeting of the governing body in Dubai. However, the committee decided against removing Gavaskar as it felt it would be better to give him the option of deciding what he wants to do. The report said Gavaskar, a controversial figure since his retirement, was defending his criticism of match referee Mike Procter, after he had ruled against India's Harbhajan Singh for alleged racial abuse of Andrew Symonds in January's Sydney test.

Gavaskar had reportedly claimed that white South African match referee Procter was biased against Indian players because of their skin colour.
Procter's ruling was subsequently overruled by the appeals commissioner.Gavaskar will meet CEO Malcolm Speed in Dubai this week to discuss this matter.

OneIndia News