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Geoff Allardice steps down as ICC CEO
Geoff Allerd8e has resigned as chief executive of the ICC after four years in the role, citing a desire to “pursue new challenges.”
Allardice was appointed chief executive in November 2021, having taken over on an interim basis eight months previously when his predecessor, Manu Sawhney, was suspended. He has worked at the ICC since 2012, initially as general manager of cricket after a previous role with Cricket Australia.
“It has been a privilege to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Council,” Allardice said. “I am incredibly proud of the results we have achieved, from enhancing the global reach of cricket to the commercial foundation put in place for ICC Members.
“I’d like to thank the ICC Chair, the board of directors and [the] entire cricket community for their support and collaboration over the past 13 years. I believe this is the right time for me to step down and pursue new challenges. I am confident that cricket has exciting times ahead, and I wish the ICC and the global cricket community every success in the future.”
Allardice’s decision to step down coincides with the early days of Jay Shah’s term as ICC chair. Shah, the ex-secretary of the BCCI, took over from Greg Barclay on December 1.
“On behalf of the ICC Board, I want to sincerely thank Geoff for his leadership and commitment during his tenure as Chief Executive,” Shah said. “His efforts have played a key role in advancing cricket globally. We are truly grateful for his service and wish him all the very best in his future endeavours.”
Allardice, like his predecessor Dave Richardson, maintained a lower profile as CEO than predecessors such as Haroon Lorgat or Malcolm Speed, but he was an instrumental administrator within the ICC. In particular, during his stint as general manager cricket he can claim some significant achievements: overcoming the BCCI’s early concerns with DRS and ensuring it was implemented as standard across the international game; standardising and implementing the processes around illegal actions; overseeing the creation of the World Test Championship and the (now-defunct) ODI Super League as a means of bringing context to bilateral cricket. In an era in which domestic, cash-rich T20 leagues mushroomed, the latter was an important addition.
When he took over as CEO in an interim capacity, it was thought he had done so with some reluctance. And when he took on the role permanently, it was at a difficult time for the game, navigating its way through the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. But one of his major achievements as CEO was to get cricket into the Olympic Games, which could have a lasting consequence for the growth of the game. Overseeing a first ICC world event in the USA – the T20 World Cup last year – should have been a similarly seminal moment in the growth of the game, but the operations of that tournament have become the subject of an audit since, and board members have expressed unhappiness with the way it was run.
The ICC said in a statement that its board will “initiate the next steps to identify” Allardice’s successor, but it has not clarified if Allardice was leaving with immediate effect or whether he will stay until the end of the Champions Trophy in February-March.
Allardice is the latest in a spate of departures of senior ICC management, following the exits of Alex Marshall (the anti-corruption head), Chris Tetley (head of events) and Claire Furlong (general manager marketing and communication) in recent months.
(Cricinfo)
Building on its success in seizing major narcotic stocks in 2025, the Navy continued to support the “A Nation United” National Mission in 2026. In continuation of these efforts, during an
operation conducted on the high seas south of Sri Lanka, the Navy apprehended eleven (11) suspects aboard two local multi-day fishing trawlers suspected of drug smuggling.
Based on shared information, by the Sri Lanka Navy and Police, this special operation was conducted off the southern coast, deploying the Navy‟s Offshore Patrol Vessels. The operation
resulted in the interception of a multi-day fishing trawler suspected of smuggling narcotics, and the apprehension of five (05) suspects on board.
During further operations in the same area, naval units seized another multi-day fishing trawler (01), along with communication equipment and six (06) additional suspects, also believed to be involved in drug smuggling.
This morning (25 Jan 26), the two intercepted fishing trawlers, along with fourteen (14) sacks laden with suspected narcotics and the suspects, were brought to the Dikovita Fisheries Harbour.
An expert examination by the Police Narcotic Bureau confirmed that the fourteen (14) sacks contained more than 184 kilograms of heroin and over 112 kilograms of ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine).
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara, the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, and the Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasuriya, inspected the narcotics at the Dikovita harbour.
The Deputy Minister of Defence said that the current administration has initiated several projects for national development. As a flagship initiative, under the directives and guidance of the President, and under the supervision of the
Ministry of Defence, well-coordinated anti-narcotic raids have been launched.
This effort, part of “A Nation United” National Mission, involves the tri-forces, police, and all intelligence agencies working together under a coordinated plan to ensure that drug smugglers have no opportunity to bring narcotics into the country, he opined. He further stated that despite the national disaster situation, the state machinery, including the tri-forces, the police, and the public at large, remains united in rebuilding the nation, no room will be left for drug trafficking, which poses a severe threat to national security and public safety. Those
who engage in or support drug trafficking, under the cover of fishing activities, will find no escape, he added.
The Deputy Minister also reaffirmed that the tri-forces, police, and all law enforcement agencies are fully committed to their duty of suppressing this menace.
The Deputy Minister of Defence reported that, throughout 2025, a series of highly successful operations were conducted leading to numerous arrests. This was achieved through close coordination and mutual cooperation among the tri-services, the police, the Special Task Force, Police Narcotics Bureau, local law enforcement and international agencies. He noted that this
same spirit of cooperation and commitment has continued into 2026, resulting in the seizure of a large stockpile of drugs.
On behalf of the Honourable President, he extended gratitude to all who contributed to these efforts, specifically acknowledging the Commander of the Navy, the Inspector General of Police, the Police Narcotic Bureau, and the crews of the Navy’s Offshore
Patrol Vessels.
Moreover, the Deputy Minister declared that drug smuggling has become a national crisis, fueled by youth involvement and social crime. With borders secured under the “Nation United” National Mission, he warned traffickers to cease operations and urged users to abandon the destructive habit.
The Deputy Minister urged the public to report suspected drug smugglers to law enforcement via the hotlines 1818 or 1997 and also commended the role of media institutions and journalists in raising public awareness about the dangers of narcotics through responsible reporting.
Meanwhile, the two (02) multi-day fishing trawlers, along with a haul of narcotics, eleven (11) suspects, and communication equipment, were handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau for
further investigation and legal proceedings.
Tanzania 131 in 38.3 overs (Acrey Pascal 55; Nihar Parmar 4-30, Nikhil Pol 3-23) lost to Japan 136/1 in 28.2 overs (Nihar Parmar 53*, Taylor Waugh 47) by nine wickets
[Cricbuzz]
New Zealand 135 in 36.2 overs (RS Ambrish 4-29, Henil Patel 3-23) lost to India 130/3 in 13.3 overs (Vaibhav Suryavanshi 40, Ayush Mhatre 53) by 7 wickets [DLS Method]
[Cricbuzz]
Three arrested with narcotics valued at Rs123 million at BIA
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