New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) UAE's Emirates Cricket Board President Khalid Al Zarooni was unanimously elected as the Vice-President of the Asian Cricket Council during its annual general meeting, the ACC confirmed on Sunday. The continental body also approved the addition of the Afghanistan Cricket Board to its full member board.

The meeting was held on Saturday as the ACC sat in for discussions related to "key governance matters, including elections to the ACC Executive Board, the rotation policy of the ACC Presidency, and the formation of various ACC committees".

The body also confirmed the election of representatives of the non-Test-playing countries and associate members to the ACC Executive Board for 2026–2028. It confirmed the appointment of Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Saoud Al Thani, Qatar Cricket Association President, and Mahmood Gaznavi, Singapore Cricket Association President, from the non-Test-playing nations. The ACC also brought in Mohamed Faisal from the Cricket Board of Maldives and Mohammad Mansoor from Bahrain Cricket Federation to share the term in office on the Executive Board.

Meanwhile, the ACC members approved the addition of the ACB to the "roster of Full Member Boards that may assume the Presidency of the Asian Cricket Council". India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh currently rotate the Presidency of ACC.

It also confirmed the formation of ACC committees, which will "support the Council’s governance, administration, cricket development, competitions, finance, and other key areas." ACC President Mohsin Naqvi welcomed the decisions in the meeting. "Cricket in Asia has always been more than a game — it is a shared language that connects nations, cultures and generations. The decisions taken at this Annual General Meeting reflect the maturity of our governance and our collective resolve to build institutions that will serve the sport long after we have left these positions," he said in the statement.

"I congratulate our newly elected Vice President and Executive Board Members, and I thank every Member Board for the spirit of unity and cooperation that continues to define this Council. Our responsibility now is to carry this vision forward with humility, discipline and an unwavering commitment to the game — for the players of today, and for the generations of Asian cricketers yet to come," Naqvi added.

--IANS

vm/bsk/