May quits FICA, hits out at ICC

Sydney (Agencies): Tim May quit as chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations on Wednesday and took the opportunity to severely criticize the International Cricket Council. FICA said in a statement that the former Australia test player, who had held the same post with the Australian Cricketers' Association from 1997 to 2005, had informed the board of his resignation. FICA -- which represents players from seven of cricket's 10 major countries, but not India -- demanded last month that the ICC investigate former India international Laxman Sivaramakrishnan's victory over May for a place as a player representative on the ICC's cricket committee amid allegations of vote fixing. The ICC denied any evidence of wrongdoing in the vote and said that despite what it called initial "confusion" over the process that led to a re-vote, Sivaramakrishnan was elected fairly and according to its procedures. "Over the past 18 months or so, I came to the realization that I was tiring of working in a sport that was increasingly at odds with the principles I respect," May said in Wednesday's statement, without referring directly to the tainted vote.

"It's time for someone else to continue the battle for change. After 16 years in the player association business, it's time that I handed over the reins to someone who has a fresh zeal for the position." May said the current issues facing cricket, including corruption, means the ICC has to take more of a leading role. "More and more we see allegations of corruption and malpractice on and off the field dominating headlines," May said.