Malcolm Speed Quotations

We've already cancelled the status of one Test match, which I believe is unprecedented and is something that shouldn't have happened,

We started the event with 12 teams but reduced it to a 10-team event following criticism there was too much disparity between the top 10 and the 11th and 12th teams.

We believe that's the best way that cricket can show it's remorse, can show the people of the countries that have been affected that we're thinking of them and we're concerned to do whatever we can to ease the suffering at this terrible time.

We did reach an impasse and it's fair to allow more time for the Asian countries to make a fresh bid.

Moving venues was one of the issues discussed today.

If this issue is not resolved well ahead of the match, it is possible that it will take place at the start of the match in a highly charged and volatile environment that will exacerbate risk of injury.

I firmly believe that Sunil and his co-selectors have chosen wisely in making their choices and have given Graeme Smith and Shaun Pollock an enviable number of options to cover all match circumstances.

I firmly believe the selectors have chosen wisely and have given Graeme Smith and Shaun Pollock an enviable number of options to cover all match circumstances.

For the second year in a row a highly respected quintet of former international cricketers has agreed to take undertake the important responsibility of sitting on the Selection Panel for the ICC Awards,

If the ICC had overturned the decision of the match referee that would have been an invitation for this to happen the next time any board is dissatisfied with the decision an ICC official makes.

He's happy and appreciative of the approach we've taken.

It is now an established part of the global cricket calendar taking place every two years and when the ICC comes to sell television rights for all its events up to 2015 later this year it will form part of the package available to broadcasters.

Rod Marsh was on top of the list of the possible candidates. Rod's rich experience as a top-class international player and highly respected academy coach in Australia and England will be an invaluable asset.

Rod Marsh was on top of the list of the possible candidates, ... Rod's rich experience as a top-class international player and highly respected academy coach in Australia and England will be an invaluable asset.

Respect for each other is a key component of the game and racist comments have no place in cricket. That this is an isolated incident by a small number of people in one country does not lessen the game's resolve to address the issue.

We were looking for a coach who can bring together a team at short notice to be ready to take on the world champions.

We have already received bids from six to seven countries who are willing to play host to the (Twenty-20) event.

We have worked through initial drafts and all of the countries will now be given an opportunity to comment on a revised six-year plan,

We have led the world in terms of the processes we have put in place.

We are not able to wait any longer, as it is necessary to finalize details of the competing teams,

There are no weak links in either of the World XI squads. Everywhere you look there is an outstanding player whose talent enriches the game.

The passion that India has for the game is greater than any other country has for any sport. Factor in the billion-plus population and an economy growing by 7 to 8%?and what that means for the value of TV rights, advertising and sponsorship?and you understand the commercial power of India.

We need to see whether it can add value to international cricket or take value away from it. We need to be careful to preserve 50-over and, particularly, test cricket.

With greater certainty regarding the place of ICC events in the calendar, the ICC and its members are now in a position to continue their discussions over the introduction of a six-year program.

We always knew we would be following the Ashes and I don't think that's had a particular impact on the concept of the game.

We want each country to have a full allocation for cricket.

We do not normally comment on the operational activities of the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit but in light of the volume of utterly unfounded reports relating to the recent tri-series in Zimbabwe it is important to make it clear that there is no investigation being undertaken into this series,

Both formats could be played in a number of countries at different times of the year to fit in with the overall demands on international teams.

Cricket is an international game which is played by a diverse range of cultures and communities. Respect for each other is a key component of the game and racist comments have no place in cricket.

Racism in any form is abhorrent and everyone in cricket is unhappy with the way in which players from international teams have been subjected to racist abuse in Australia.

Once the ICC executive board has received this report, we will be in a position to identify what further steps cricket can take to tackle this issue before it spreads beyond the incidents that have taken place in Australia.

Australia, Bermuda, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE and the West Indies have indicated their intention to be considered as hosts for an inaugural Twenty20 event while England, Hong Kong, Nepal and Scotland have also expressed an interest in hosting future events.

This FTP protects the status of Test cricket, ensures that prestigious historical Test series can continue to be contested over four or five matches and provides certainty of planning for our members.

They should be congratulated for once again proving to be the most consistent team in both forms of the game.

This is the second year of the ICC Awards after a very successful introduction in London last year,

For 18 months the ICC have been consistently reviewing the role that Twenty20 cricket could play internationally, and this response indicates there is strong interest from many parts of the cricket world in this type of event.

It's something we want to talk to the captains about and the umpires,

The awards provide an opportunity for all players, umpires and teams to be recognized and one of the key strengths of the system we have in place is that this recognition comes from respected voices within the game.

But it's a delicate issue and a difficult issue.

ICC position has been consistent: we say to governments that we don't take decisions based on political judgments - we expect governments to do that.

Graeme Smith and Shaun Pollock have been given an enviable number of options to cover all match circumstances.

For the past three years at least, we've been asked that players be allowed not to comply with their agreements with Zimbabwe, or that cricket not be played in Zimbabwe,

The ICC requires clean cricket venues free of advertising signage to protect the rights of our sponsors.

You will appreciate that BCCI and ICC are on a collision course and that the consequences for world cricket are of great significance.

The chief executives of the Australia and South Africa boards and I will come back with recommendations for a change, if any, to the ICC anti-racism policy during the April 30 meeting.

The effect of this decision is that the FTP is binding on all of the members of ICC, including BCCI. Any attempt by a member to amend it unilaterally without the consent of the ICC executive board is invalid.