Cricket: ICC says goodbye to Lord's after 96 years

LONDON - The International Cricket Council (ICC) will cut its ties with Lord's on Saturday after 96 years at the venue to start operating from new premises in Dubai on August 1.

ICC president Ehsan Mani thanked the Marylebone Cricket Club, which owns Lord's, for its support since 1909, adding: "As the ICC prepares to enter the next exciting phase of its development it does so physically far removed from the shores of England, but forever spiritually at home at Lord's."

The ICC, however, will return to Lord's for its annual conference in June and July 2006.

The sport's governing body's departure from London has allowed it to slash costs and exploit tax benefits. Some of its operations had already been shifted to Monaco.

The ICC was founded in June 1909 by Australia, England and South Africa and was initially known as the Imperial Cricket Conference.

It changed its name in 1965 to the International Cricket Conference, then again to the International Cricket Council in 1989 as it developed from a discussion forum to one responsible for running the sport.

- REUTERS