Crickets killed by boss Manu Sawhney says he is the victim of a witch hunt

Manu Sawhney, CEO of the International Polluted Cricket Council (ICC), says he is a victim of pre-thought witch hunting and believes the sports governing body has not given him a fair hearing on allegations of workplace bullying.

Sawhney, who was hired in 2019 and has one year left on his contract, was sentenced by the International Criminal Court in March after PriceWaterhouseCooper (PwC) conducted a workplace culture investigation into alleged abuse in Singapore, including targeted harassment of certain personnel and physical aggression.

Sawhney read a statement prepared for a disciplinary hearing with ICC President Greg Barclay on June 17, sent to board members, and a copy I obtained, and said he was shocked by allegations he suspected of having committed two or more three people.

I categorically reject that I have engaged in any kind of bullying while I was at the ICC, he said. In addition to the very vague nature of the allegations against me, no proper disciplinary procedure, including a thorough disciplinary investigation, has been followed.

Sawhney marked the PwC report, which sources say costs more than $ 150,000, as an overall assessment of workplace culture.

None of the evidence in the PwC report has been investigated at any level, he said.

If the ICC refuses to verify the findings of the PwC report and simply accepts the veracity of all anonymous statements, this disciplinary procedure is nothing more than a pre-planned and pre-determined witch-hunt that does not meet the principles of fairness and natural justice.

This would set a very dangerous precedent and would be completely at odds with the fundamental values ​​of the International Criminal Court.

It is quite clear to me, as to any sensible person or bystander, that I am the victim of a hunt for preconceived witches.

The ICC has been contacted for comments.

Sawhney was brought under the previous presidency, Shashank Manohar, at a time when the power of the three great crickets of India, England and Australia was restored amid an even more comprehensive approach.

The 51-year-old, who had previously served as CEO of ESPN Star Sports and CEO of Singapore Sports Hub, boldly tried to rejuvenate the conservative cricket sport by challenging the current situation, especially raising teams at the World Cup and driving cricket involvement. At the LA Olympics, which had long faced opposition from India and England.

Controversially, Sawhney advocated an open bidding process for ICC events, which he hoped would grow to eight in 2023-31 to generate more revenue. The issues were a divisive part of last year’s presidential election between Imran Khwaja and Barclay, which, according to sources, prevailed with the support of the big three.

Sawhney said he wanted a disciplinary hearing led by an independent person and not Barclay, who he said did not allow his lawyer to be present and was not included in the other complaints.

The decision as to whether disciplinary action should not be taken against me therefore belongs to the same person who has made a number of decisions that have substantially impaired my ability to respond to allegations against me and have been inconsistent with ICC policy, he said.

Sawhney, who revealed he had suffered from acute stress and anxiety during this story, said he did not want significant achievements from the International Criminal Court during his tenure.

If Barclay finds me guilty of the allegations against me, I look forward to receiving detailed written responses, he said.

I also exercise my right to appeal all guilty decisions to the government.

If found guilty, the ICC board made a final call about its future at an extraordinary meeting. According to sources, Sawhneys’ term with the ICC is virtually over when the card is agreed.

There will be no return from this, the source told me. CEOs are very tough, they break the whip and some don’t like it. Commercially, he is in a good mood.

The government has been in the dark about this. Only a few have been heard. The government is still quite divided.

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice is currently the CEO.