President of cricket's governing body quits in prize-giving row

The president of the cricket's governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), announced his resignation today, over controversy related to the prize distribution ceremony at the recently concluded World Cup.

Australia's Brad Haddin (L) and team mate David Warner hold the Cricket World Cup trophy after receiving it from ICC chairman N Srinivasan Reuters/Hamish Blair

The Cricket World Cup may have finished on Sunday but its off-field repercussions continued to be felt during the week.

ICC chief Mustafa Kamal announced his resignation on Wednesday, accusing his ICC colleagues of acting “unlawfully”.

Kamal, who hails from Bangladesh, said the ICC had robbed him of his right to give away the prizes at the end of the World Cup final that took place in Melbourne on Sunday.

Instead the trophy to the winning captain was handed over by the ICC chairman N Srinivasan.

Announcing his resignation in Dhaka, Kamal said that he cannot work with those who act unconstitutionally and unlawfully.

Since Srinivasan took over as ICC chairman last year, Kamal's position has been largely ceremonial.

The 67-year-old-Kamal, who is also a member of the Bangladeshi parliament, had earlier threatened to quit over umpiring decisions during his country's World Cup quarter-final loss to India.

He said the outcome of the match appeared to have been "prearranged" and that there was "no quality in the umpiring".

Last month's match was the first time Bangladesh had reached the World Cup quarter-finals and emotions in the cricket-mad country ran high after their 109-run defeat by India.