Gurumurthy Palani elected to ICC’s Chief Executives’ Committee following his dedicated cricket journey

By K.R. Nayar

Gurumurthy Palani, who has been spreading the game among Associate countries over the years in different roles, has been elected to the reputed International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC). Representing France, Palani, who is a highly qualified banker with 30 years of experience in banking, consulting, and fintech, has carried a deep passion for the game and has been serving it for many years. He was elected to this august body along with Anurag Bhatnagar of Hong Kong and Gurdeep Klair of Canada.

 

Gurumurthy Palani with Jay Shah, chairman of ICC, after being elected to the ICC CEC 

Over the years, I’ve followed Palani’s numerous  initiatives to spread the game not only in France but also in Bahrain, where he has set up a High Performance Academy. The number of events he has staged for men’s and women’s cricket and his efforts towards creating facilities to nurture talent have all contributed to his elevation to the ICC’s elite body.

 

Gurumurthy Palani at the ICC’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Singapore 

When asked whether his win would further boost his mission to serve the game, Palani said: “Associate Members are the driving force behind cricket’s global expansion. My vision is to empower them through stronger governance, uncompromising transparency, and equitable funding. We will champion the growth of women’s cricket and strengthen pathways from grassroots to high performance, ensuring every nation, large or small, has the chance to excel. Together, we will build an inclusive, transparent, and performance-driven ecosystem that not only allows every nation to thrive but also propels cricket towards becoming the number one sport in the world.”

 

Gurumurthy Palani's mission continues with new responsibilities 

Campaigning for this position, Palani, in an interview with this writer in 2024, had said: “Associate Members’ collective voice needs to be taken directly to the Chairman of the ICC Board. I will ensure that their voices are heard loud and clear.”

 

On being elected, Palani remarked: “I am truly excited to work under the visionary leadership of our esteemed Chairman, Mr. Jay Shah, whose unwavering commitment to the growth of Associate cricket is inspiring.”

 

In fact, Palani is proud of the efforts being put in by Shah. “I am proud to work with Mr. Jay Shah, whose visionary efforts are dedicated to elevating this beautiful game and making cricket the number one sport in the world.”

 

Gurumurthy Palani speaking during an ICC Women's Cricket Panel discussion in Birmingham 

Palani, Bhatnagar, and Klair won over incumbents Sumod Damodar (Botswana), Sankar Renganathan (Sierra Leone), Tim Cutler (Vanuatu), Stella Siale (Samoa), and Sarah Gomersall (Jersey), who were the other contenders in the CEC elections. Forty Associate Members and five regional representatives from the Americas, Asia, Africa, Europe, and East Asia-Pacific voted in the election.

 

Gurumurthy Palani successfully staged the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Men’s Under-16 West Zone Cup in the UAE

Palani is delighted to be part of the CEC, which is one of the ICC’s most authoritative boards. It includes representatives from all Full Member nations and elected Associate Members. He hopes to contribute immensely, as this body plays a crucial role in shaping policies and governance with regard to the promotion and organisation of the game at the international level.

Gurumurthy Palani gives away the Player of the Match award during the ICC Men's World Cup qualifiers   

Incidentally, Palani, Bhatnagar, and Klair will serve a two-year term and join the Associate Member Committee, which governs and regulates cricket at the Associate level. This election was a prelude to the beginning of the ICC’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Singapore on Thursday July 17, and concluded on July 20. The AGM was of huge significance as it is the first important ICC meeting under Jay Shah and the newly-appointed CEO Sanjog Gupta.

 

 Palani feels delighted to be part of the world cricket body whose history dates back to 1909, then known as the Imperial Cricket Conference. The ICC now has its headquarters in Dubai.

Though born in India, Palani was educated in Canada and then worked in multiple countries including the UK, Canada, India, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. As part of his banking profession, he has had speaking engagements in over 60 countries but always ensured he took time out for the promotion of the game.

 

In 2023, Palani successfully staged the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Men’s Under-16 West Zone Cup in the UAE on behalf of the Bahrain Cricket Federation, when he was the development officer for the federation. Last year, Palani played a significant role in staging the Pacific France Women’s T20I Championship 2025 final in France, which was won by Samoa.

 

Palani also played a role in the formation of the European Cricket Association. The inaugural meeting of the association was held at Pullman Eiffel, Paris, and was attended by representatives of six cricket-playing nations – France, Italy, Jersey, Malta, Austria, and Romania.

 

Gurumurthy Palani (extreme right) during the launch of the European Cricket Association

In one of the interactions with Palani, he has once remarked that his role as Chief Development Officer for the Bahrain Cricket Foundation had helped him understand more about what was needed for an Associate nation to progress. Palani’s focus has always been on the development of grassroots cricket, boosting women’s and youth leagues, and strengthening professional coaching structures.

 

By getting elected to the reputed Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Palani’s journey of serving the game can scale greater heights.