In 2019, who was appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the International Cricket Council (ICC)?

Introduction / Context:
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body for cricket, responsible for organizing major events like the Cricket World Cup and setting international rules. The role of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is crucial in overseeing day-to-day operations and long-term strategy. This question focuses on a specific appointment in 2019, when a new CEO took over from the outgoing chief, making it an important current-affairs and sports-administration topic.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The year of the appointment is clearly stated as 2019.
• The position is that of CEO of the ICC.
• Options include Anurag Thakur, Manu Sawhney, N. Srinivasan, and Dave Richardson.
• We assume that Dave Richardson was the outgoing CEO prior to this change.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this question, we rely on accurate recall of sports administrative news. Dave Richardson, a former South African wicketkeeper, served as ICC CEO for several years. In 2019, he was succeeded by Manu Sawhney, an Indian-origin business executive with experience in sports and media. N. Srinivasan and Anurag Thakur are notable Indian cricket administrators but did not hold the ICC CEO position. Therefore, identifying Manu Sawhney as the successor is key to solving this question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Dave Richardson had announced his decision to step down as ICC CEO around the time of the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Step 2: Remember that Manu Sawhney was named as his successor and took over the role in 2019. Step 3: Review the options: Anurag Thakur (former BCCI president and Indian politician), N. Srinivasan (former BCCI president), and Dave Richardson (the outgoing CEO). Step 4: Recognize that none of these except Manu Sawhney matches the description of the newly appointed ICC CEO in 2019. Step 5: Select Manu Sawhney as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Press releases from the ICC and reports from major sports news outlets in 2019 clearly state that Manu Sawhney was appointed as the new ICC CEO, succeeding Dave Richardson. Many exam-oriented current-affairs compilations from 2019–2020 also list this as an important sports governance question. Cross-checking multiple such sources confirms the accuracy of this information and eliminates doubt about the correct option.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Anurag Thakur has served as BCCI president and held political roles in India but has not been ICC CEO. N. Srinivasan, another influential BCCI administrator, served as ICC chairman but not as CEO. Dave Richardson is the person who vacated the CEO role in 2019, so he cannot be the newly appointed CEO at that time. Therefore, only Manu Sawhney correctly fits the description of the new ICC CEO in 2019.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the roles of ICC “chairman” and “CEO,” or mix up high-profile names like N. Srinivasan with specific positions. Another mistake is to forget the timeline and assume that the most familiar name among the options must be correct. To avoid such errors, always connect the name with the specific role and year mentioned. Remembering that Dave Richardson was outgoing and Manu Sawhney was the incoming CEO in 2019 helps keep the facts straight.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Manu Sawhney, who was appointed as the new CEO of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2019.