Manohar's contribution to Indian cricket is invaluable: BCCI

Acknowledging International Cricket Council (ICC) chairperson Shashank Manohar contribution to cricket as 'invaluable', the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday said the former is a man of few words but excellent deeds.

Expressing its surprise at the sudden decision of Manohar to step down from the post, the BCCI wished him the very best for his future endeavours.

"The BCCI Committee of Administrators (CoA) was looking forward to a long-term cooperation between the ICC and BCCI with Mr. Manohar at the helm of affairs," the BCCI said in a statement.

Manohar earlier in the day resigned from the post because of personal reasons.

Manohar, who was elected unopposed as the ICC's first independent chairman in May 2016 for a two-year term, held the position for only eight months.

He had since then had led the effort to decentralise the power held by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia (CA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

As per ESPNcricinfo, Manohar, in a letter addressed to ICC chief executive David Richardson, said that he tried his best to be fair and impartial in deciding matters in the functioning of the board and in matters related to member boards.

"However, for personal reasons it is not possible for me to hold the august office of ICC chairman and hence I am tendering my resignation as chairman with immediate effect. I take this opportunity to thank all the Directors, the Management and staff of ICC for supporting me wholeheartedly. I wish ICC all the very best and hope it achieves greater heights in future," he said.

Manohar is a prominent Indian lawyer who served his first stint as the BCCI President from 2008-2011. Following the passing of Jagmohan Dalmiya, Manohar was re-elected as the BCCI President in October 2015 and, by virtue of that position, has held the role of ICC chairman since then.