Review conducted by Lord Woolf recommended the Restructuring of ICC's Executive Board

The International Cricket Council's independent review, conducted by Lord Woolf in its report called for sweeping changes in the administration of cricket. The review recommended the restructuring of the ICC's executive board in order to make it more independent. It also stated that influence of the bigger countries and the full-members must be reduced.

The review mentioned that the bigger nations in the ICC look after their own interest rather than that of the game.

Lord Woolf's report highlighted the need to reduce the strength of Full Members and the appointment of independent directors. ICC's board currently comprises the heads of all Full Member nations, three representatives from the Associates and Affiliates and the ICC's president, vice-president and chief executive. Woolf recommended five independent directors, of which three are to be from within the game and two from outside with voting rights. The review also recommended that an ICC director should not concurrently hold any leadership or executive post with their home boards.

The Review and what it stated

Vast differences in financial strength between Full Members, from India at the top to Zimbabwe at the bottom created an unequal balance of power.

The disparity of the financial positions of Members was found to create an environment in which it is possible that one Member may approach another Member for financial support or a loan. Such transactions was likely to potentially create (or be perceived to create) a conflict of interest and could jeopardise the independence of Members. Currently there is no requirement for such financial arrangements to be disclosed to the ICC and therefore the ICC would not necessarily be aware if loans were being made between Members and any consequent impairment of independence.

The matter of gifts and inducements was also adressed in the report and the ICC asked to refrain from providing lavish gifts, hospitality or entertainment to members. Also, the game's governing body  would have to undertake regular risk assessments to identify those commercial arrangements and individuals that are most likely to attract attempts by third parties to inappropriately influence the ICC's decision making.

Government interference in cricket decisions was also outlined as a problem. the report however stated that governments taking an interest in the development of cricket and providing support and patronage to Member Boards may be acceptable or even desirable.

The report called for the declaration of all potential conflicts of interest, with any board directors standing to benefit personally from a board decision asked to be excluded from decisions related to those matters.

The report mentioned that the existing code of ethics of the ICC should be reinforced and applied to every ICC office bearer, as well as commercial partners and intermediaries such as commercial agents. The report recommended that sanctions be drawn up for violations of the code, and the place of the ethics board be elevated to monitor governance and commercial practices at each level of the ICC.

Woolf report recommendations

•    A culture should be established where all potential conflicts of interest are declared, assessed and addressed.
•    ICC Directors should neither seek to place undue influence on other Members, nor allow themselves to be influenced inappropriately by other Members to support the interests of individual Members.
•    Any side agreements between Members that may affect the interests of the ICC and global cricket should be disclosed so that there is due transparency and their effects are understood.
•    Government interference is inappropriate and is not acceptable. A level of government patronage and support of cricket is permissible.
•    There should be clear and enforced limits on the value of Gifts and Hospitality (individually and aggregate) that ICC Directors and staff can give or receive. It should be mandatory to log all gifts and hospitality that are given or received.