ICC Postpones Doha Board Meeting Due to Middle East Conflict

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to postpone its board meeting, originally scheduled for March 25-27 in Doha, Qatar. The reason for this decision is the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The meeting is now expected to be rescheduled for April, though a precise new date has not yet been announced.

The postponement became unavoidable given the escalating situation in the region. A formal notification was sent to ICC members on Saturday, a day before the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad. Reportedly, the ICC is exploring alternative venues within the continent to host the meeting.

The assembly was intended to bring together ICC Board Directors, Chief Executives, Committee Members, and senior leadership as part of the organization's regular governance schedule. It was anticipated to serve as an important platform for discussing key issues concerning the present and future of global cricket.

In a press release issued on February 22, the ICC had stated that Doha was selected as the venue due to the organization's increasing engagement with cricket in Qatar and the country's broader sporting ecosystem.

The ICC had previously noted that "support for and collaboration with the Qatar Cricket Association and the Olympic Committee have significantly contributed to the development of cricket in Qatar in recent years."

Meanwhile, several ICC officials are expected to arrive in Ahmedabad, the hometown of ICC chairman Jay Shah. With New Zealand participating in the final, it has been learned that Roger Twose, chairman of New Zealand Cricket (NZC), will be present at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday evening.

Tavengwa Mukuhlani, chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), and Dr. Mohammed Moosajee, chairman of Cricket South Africa (CSA), are also anticipated to attend, alongside several other board representatives.

However, there is no immediate confirmation regarding the attendance of Aminul Islam, president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB); he is reportedly in Melbourne. Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), will not be present.