Did the Asian bloc force Speed to go on leave?

KARACHI: The Asian bloc -- along with the cricket boards of South Africa and Zimbabwe -- combined to force ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed out of his job prematurely as they felt the Australian was "biased" against them.

Speed went on paid leave just two months before the end of his tenure in June citing a "fundamental breakdown" between him and ICC President Ray Mali and member boards.

Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board revealed that the PCB ganged up with its Asian counterparts in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka -- apart from the South Africans and Zimbabweans -- to force Speed out.

PCB sources said the six boards felt Speed's attitude was biased against them on certain issues, particularly over the financial report on the activities of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU).

"The decision to send Speed on forced leave was taken during the recent opening of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Mumbai," a source said.

He said the flashpoint in the relations between Speed and the executive board came at the last meeting held in Dubai where the ZCU report was discussed and cleared.

"Speed was told that as chief executive he must be clear at the media briefing that the ZCU audit report had revealed no financial irregularities but he refused to do this in violation of all norms creating an impression that some members were trying to protect the ZCU," the source said.

He said even on the issue of controversial umpire Darrell Hair's reinstatement, Speed played a "biased role" to get him back on Test duty despite resistance from some members.
    
The source said even on some other major issues like the Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds clash in Australia, Speed had differences with other members.
    
Scott dropped a 10-foot birdie putt at the 72nd hole to force playoff with Moore, both finishing four rounds on seven-under par 273, four strokes ahead of third-place US veteran Bart Bryant at the 6.4 million-dollar event.
    
The playoff began on the 18th and Scott had a chance to win it with a 10-foot birdie putt but left it short. Each tapped in for par and went to the 7th tee.
    
Bryant found the green on the 196-yard par-3 hole but was 30 feet and two major mounds from the cup while Scott just cleared a water hazard and left himself a 12-foot birdie putt for the victory.
    
Bryant rolled his effort eight feet past the cup but Scott rolled his birdie bid just left of the cup, settling for par and forcing Bryant to sink his tension-packed putt to continue the playoff, which the American did.
    
In the fourth round, Scott squandered what had been a three-stroke lead when the round began, opening with a bogey and taking a double-bogey at the par-three fifth when his tee shot found water shy of the green.
    
Scott birdied the seventh and answered a bogey at 15 with birdies at 16 and 18, setting up the playoff drama.
    
Moore took a bogey at the second hole but birdies at the par-five seventh, eighth and 10th put him on top. Moore made bogeys at 13 and 14 to falter but righted the ship with birdies at 16 and 17.