Geoff Allardice has resigned as the CEO of the International Cricket Council (ICC), just weeks before the Champions Trophy. According to a board member, his failure to highlight as the host is among the several reasons for his decision to step down.

Allardice, 57, joined the ICC in 2012 as General Manager of Cricket after serving as Cricket Operations Manager at Cricket Australia. He was officially appointed CEO in November 2021, following an eight-month interim role.

Allardice said,It has been an honour to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Council. I am immensely proud of our accomplishments, from expanding cricket’s global reach to strengthening the commercial foundation for ICC Members.”

I believe this is the right moment for me to step aside and take on new challenges," Allardice stated. While the ICC's official announcement did not detail the reasons for his resignation, insiders suggest the decision had been brewing for some time.

A board member, speaking anonymously to PTI, highlighted key issues. "The ICC T20 World Cup in the US was heavily criticized for poor playing conditions and exceeding its budget, with the audit still incomplete. The turning point, however, was the Champions Trophy, where Allardice, as CEO, failed to provide a clear update on Pakistan's readiness to host such a major event," the source said.

The Champions Trophy is set to kick off on February 19, with India playing its matches in Dubai due to security concerns in Pakistan.

The ICC faces a significant challenge as key venues in Karachi and Rawalpindi remain partially under construction or undergoing renovations. Images from these sites have raised doubts about Pakistan's readiness to host the event, which features the top eight teams and is returning after a six-year gap since 2017.

Despite the uncertainties, ICC Chair Jay Shah lauded Geoff Allardice for his contributions. "On behalf of the ICC Board, I want to sincerely thank Geoff for his leadership and dedication during his tenure as Chief Executive. His efforts have been instrumental in advancing cricket on a global scale," Shah said.

"We are truly grateful for his service and wish him all the very best in his future endeavours," Jay Shah added.

The ICC Board will now initiate the process of finding Allardice's successor. His departure marks another key exit following the tenure of former chair Greg Barclay, signalling an ongoing reshuffle within the ICC.

Previously, other senior officials, including Chris Tetley (Head of Events), Alex Marshall (Head of the Anti-Corruption Unit), and Claire Furlong (Head of Marketing and Media), also stepped down, citing personal reasons.