Collier salutes Morgan

David Morgan will take over as president of the ICC next year

David Collier, the England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive, has offered his congratulations to David Morgan after it was announced that the chairman of the ECB would become International Cricket Council president in June 2008.

ICC announced Morgan's election at a press conference held at The Brit Oval and Collier said: "On behalf of everyone at ECB, our members and cricket followers throughout England and Wales, I extend my warmest congratulations to David Morgan on his unanimous election as President elect of the International Cricket Council.

"David was instrumental in establishing and streamlining the governance of ECB.

"He is an extremely popular leader of cricket in England and Wales, and the world game has chosen a gentleman with great vision whose skills will be of major benefit to the cricket world.

"Having worked closely with David during the past three years I am convinced that his style of leadership will unite the cricket family and positively lead the game to new heights.

David Collier hailed Morgan as "a gentleman with great vision"

"David joins a very elite list of British sports administrators who have led world governing bodies; ECB is very proud that David joins that elite group and we wish him every success in this exciting new role."

Morgan will take office as president in June 2008 to serve a two-year term and will be succeeded in 2010 by India’s Sharad Pawar, who will serve as vice-president in the meantime.

Morgan said: “I am delighted and greatly honoured to take on the role of ICC president elect and, from June 2008, the ICC presidency.

“My immediate priority over the next few weeks is to complete unfinished work with the England and Wales Cricket Board and also to discuss with the ECB an orderly and timely process for the election of my successor as chairman.

“Thereafter my priority will be to support current president Ray Mali for the remainder of his term in office.

“I am hugely grateful to Ray because it was one year ago that, as president of Cricket South Africa, he made the first approach to me to become a candidate for the role of ICC president.

“I have appreciated his support throughout this whole process and look forward to following him for the benefit of world cricket when the time comes.”