Just What The Doctor Ordered

New president Ehsan Mani could prove to be just what the doctor had ordered for a crisis-riddenInternational Cricket Council.

Be it the financial crisis arising out of the compensation claims of the Global Cricket Corporation, theshrinking base of the game or the extremely tricky Indo-Pak cricket ties, Mani seems to be the best equipped tohandle the pressing problems of the world governing body.

The 58-year-old London-based Pakistani -- a chartered accountant by profession -- brings with him vast expertise infinancial management, an understated but efficient work ethic and wide-ranging experience in matters relating to the game --all of which he would be required to summon in great strength as he begins his two-year term from today.

Pakistan's permanent representative at the ICC since 1989, Mani's rise in the organisation has overlapped with thetransformation of cricket from a laid-back gentleman's game into a highly professional glitzy sport complete with theinflux of big money, massive television and marketing deals and huge expansion plans.

In fact, Mani has had a key role to play in much of that.

His shrewd business acumen and deft organising skills were first noticed in the public when, as a member of organisingcommittee, he ensured the tremendous success of the 1996 World Cup -- held jointly by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka -- theprofits from which were estimated to be around $50 million. 

Mani, whose experience as a cricketer is limited to club level games in Pakistan, has only grown in stature afterthat.

From 1996 to 1999, he was the director of ICC's Finance and Marketing Committee -- a tenure during which henegotiated the $550 million contract with GCC for the exclusive rights of ICC events till 2007 including two WorldCups.

Ironically, the money that completely changed the face of the game has now become the source of ICC's biggest headache.

One of the first tasks ahead of Mani would be to settle the compensation claims of GCC which is seeking nearly$50million in damages for losses it suffered because of the failure of severalboards to fulfill theirobligations during the World Cup in South Africa earlier this year.

Mani has enough experience to deal with such issues though. After shifting to London from Rawalpindi -- where hisfather owned the London Book Company -- he pursued a career in chartered accountancy and slowly made a reputation for himselfin the job. He is on the boards of several companies with varied business interests.

He has served on a number of ICC committees, and is well versed with the functioning of theorganisation. His paper on the sharing of World Cup revenues between the host and member countries had a major impact on the financialarrangements of the ICC and its members.

His Asian origin and European lifestyle has meant that he has made himself endearing to every lobby in the ICCregardless of a growing divide within the organisation along racial lines.

Add to that a suave and charming personality, the ability to get along well with everyone and the willingness to lookfor a compromise, and it seems clear why Mani's ascendancy bodes well for theICC.

However, one issue in which he has expressed his helplessness is the resumption of Indo-Pak cricket ties.

"We can only facilitate dialogue and persuade governments that it is not healthy for sports and politics to mix but weare not in a position to dictate," he has said.

But Mani is known to enjoy a close relationship with Indian cricketboard supremo Jagmohan Dalmiya. It was duringDalmiya's tenure as ICC president that he rose to prominence as the man entrusted with the job of generatingfunds for the world body through clever marketing.

His rise to the top, coupled with the recent thaw in political relations between the two countries, has raised thehope that India and Pakistan will soon resume bilateral cricket ties

Mani is also a staunch supporter of globalisation of the game. "Development and globalisation of cricket remains a toppriority for ICC. You cannot truly have an international game based on 10 teams.You have to be expansionist and open up newmarkets," he said.

It will be a big challenge for him to take the game to newer regions at a time when its base has shrunk evenin traditional cricket-playing countries like England, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The ICC has already decided to stage two matches of the 2007 World Cup -- to be hosted by West Indies -- in the UnitedStates.

PTI