ICC defers presidency decision

Hong Kong - The International Cricket Council (ICC) has deferred until October a proposal to abolish the rotational policy on appointing the governing body's president.

"The board ... decided to defer the proposed constitutional amendment to the nominations process for election of president," the ICC said in a statement at the end of a two-day meeting of its executive board.

Scrapping the rotational policy would impact on Pakistan and Bangladesh the most as the South Asian countries are due to nominate the successor to New Zealander Alan Isaac as ICC president in 2014.

Isaac is to take over from incumbent Sharad Pawar of India next year.

The executive board also revised its stadium policy based on this year's World Cup experiences and venues for ICC events will now have to be match-ready six months before a game.

"Even though the (2011) event was hugely successful it is important for us to learn lessons so we can continually improve our events," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said.

The 2011 World Cup organisers were left red-faced when an ICC inspection team dropped an under-prepared Eden Gardens as the venue of the India v England match barely a month before the game.

Lorgat also said the ICC was planning a special celebration for next month's England v India match at Lord's - cricket's 2 000th Test.