International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Geoff Allardice has decided to step down just weeks before the Champions Trophy, with one board member suggesting that his failure to provide a “clear picture” of Pakistan’s lack of preparedness as a host nation was one of several reasons behind his departure. Allardice, 57, joined the ICC in 2012 as General Manager of Cricket after coming from Cricket Australia, where he worked as Cricket Operations Manager. He became the ICC CEO in November 2021, having served as acting CEO for eight months prior.

In a statement, Allardice expressed pride in his tenure, saying, “It has been a privilege to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Council, and I am incredibly proud of the results we have achieved, from enhancing the global reach of cricket to the commercial foundation we’ve put in place for ICC Members.” He added, “I believe this is the right time for me to step down and pursue new challenges.”

While the ICC’s official statement did not specify the reasons for Allardice’s resignation, a source within the board revealed that the decision had been building up for some time. The source pointed to the ICC T20 World Cup in the US, which faced issues with playing conditions and exceeded its budget, with auditing still underway. “What broke the camel’s back was the Champions Trophy, where he was supposed to provide a clear assessment of Pakistan’s readiness to host a tournament of this scale,” the source explained.

The Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19, with India playing some of its matches in Dubai due to security concerns in Pakistan. However, concerns persist about the readiness of the tournament venues in Karachi and Rawalpindi, which are still under construction or renovation. Images from the sites have raised doubts about whether the venues will be ready in time for the event, which will feature the world’s top eight teams and is being held for the first time since 2017.

ICC Chair Jay Shah praised Allardice’s contributions, stating, “On behalf of the ICC Board, I want to sincerely thank Geoff for his leadership and commitment during his tenure as Chief Executive. 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 endeavors.”

The ICC Board will now begin the process of selecting a successor for Allardice.

His resignation adds to the ongoing departure of several senior figures from former chair Greg Barclay’s team, including Chris Tetley (head of events), Alex Marshall (head of the Anti-Corruption Unit), and Claire Furlong (head of marketing and media), who all left on personal grounds.