The International Cricket Council has taken its first steps towards dissolving the controversial restructure made to its governance two years ago.
The national boards of England, India and Australia were responsible for a radical overhaul of cricket's world governing body, which included increased shares of global revenue for all three and powerful positions on a newly-formed executive committee.
But while BCCI president Narayanaswami Srinivasan helped to drive through the changes and became the all-powerful ICC chairman, his successor in both posts Shashank Manohar said in November last year: " I don't agree with the three major countries bullying the ICC."
And the outcome of a meeting this week is remove the so-called 'big three' from permanent positions on the executive committee and finance and commercial affairs committee and install an independent ICC chairman free of ties to a member board.
A statement added: "The board has also agreed to carry out a complete review of the 2014 resolutions and constitutional changes with a view to establishing governance, finance, corporate and cricketing structures that are appropriate and effective for the strategic role and function of the ICC and all of its members."
Manohar will be in charge of a five-member steering group which will look to put together recommendations to proposed changes at the ICC's annual conference in June this year.
Manohar said: "We had very purposeful and positive meetings, and the decisions taken clearly reflect that we collectively want to improve the governance in a transparent manner, not only of the ICC but also the member boards.
"This, in turn, will enhance the image and quality of the sport. No member of the ICC is bigger than the other and I am determined to make a meaningful contribution in this regard with support of all the members."
The next ICC chairman will be in office for a two-year term from June and could seek re-election up to twice more, with the governing body insisting on independence "in order to avoid any potential conflicts of interest".
That would necessitate England and Wales Cricket Board president Giles Clarke, who had been expected to run for the position, resigning from his current role in order should he wish to become the highest-ranked official at the ICC.
Source: PA
