Colin Graves to step down as ECB chairman in August

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Following the postponement of The Hundred, Graves has decided to end his term early. © Getty

Colin Graves will end his term as England and Wales Cricket Board's chairman on August 31, the board announced on Friday (May 1). Ian Watmore has already been chosen as his successor and his appointment will be ratified in the AGM at the end of the month.

Graves, who is aiming to succeed Shashank Manohar as ICC chairman, was to hold the position till November 2020 but has decided to end his term early with The Hundred pushed to next year. "With the launch of The Hundred unavoidably moved to 2021, I have reviewed last year's extension of my term as Chair, and put a request to the Board to now finish early, on 31 August," he said.

"It feels important to both the game and the ECB Board, to allow Ian Watmore to commence his role earlier than originally agreed. I have no doubt that his wealth of experience in sport, business and government will be invaluable as we navigate through this crisis

"I have been extremely heartened by how cricket has come together in these recent, unimaginable times. There remains a long road ahead, but I have immense confidence in the excellent leadership of Tom Harrison, our Executive Management Team and the ECB Board as they shape the direction of our response to COVID-19."

While the AGM was earlier proposed to be held on May 12, the board has been forced to push the meeting to the end of the month because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Watmore has worked as the chief executive of the FA in 2009-10 and has also served as an independent board director of the Rugby Football Union. Graves, on the other hand, was appointed the chairman of ECB in 2015 and has also worked as the club chairman of Yorkshire Cricket Club in 2006.

In other developments, Lucy Pearson and Martin Darlow's initial four-year terms have been extended by six more months. They will now continue in their roles as Non-Executive Director still November.