London (Web Desk): ECB Chairman Ian Watmore has stepped down from the post with immediate effect.
According to The Times, Watmore, who had only been in the post for 10 months, resigned amid increasing pressure on him due to his controversial decision of abandoning tour to Pakistan last month.
England had to play two T20Is at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi later this month on 13 and 14 October but Watmore announced the cancelation of tour in late September.
According to ECB, Watmore, following the announcement, remarked: "It is with regret that I step down as Chair of the ECB, but I do so in mindfulness of my own wellbeing and that of the game which I love. I was appointed to the post in a pre-pandemic era, but COVID has meant the role and its demands on time are dramatically different to all our original expectations, which has taken a personal toll on me. Given this, the Board and I feel the ECB will be better served by a new Chair to take it forward post pandemic. Leaving now, at the end of the season, gives the Board time to find a new Chair to support cricket through the challenges of the 2022 season and beyond.
“On a personal level, I also retired last month after five years at the Civil Service Commission and recently became a grandfather. I would now like to retire completely from work and enjoy our great game as a spectator.”