Dubai, April 25: In a surprise development, the International Cricket Council’s chief executive Malcolm Speed was on Friday put on paid leave till the end of his contract following a “fundamental breakdown” in his relationship with ICC president Ray Mali.

Speed, who had occupied the post since 2001, has shared a strained relationship with Mali for sometime now and differed on several issues including Zimbabwe. “The ICC president Ray Mali and CEO Malcolm Speed have agreed that Malcolm Speed will be on paid leave from April 30, 2008 until the end of his contract term on July 4, 2008,” the ICC said in a brief statement.

“This change of plan is the result of a fundamental breakdown in the relationship between the CEO and a number of board members, including the President, over a variety of issues that include Zimbabwe,” it said.

ICC general manager David Richardson will serve as the interim CEO until Speed’s replacement Haroon Lorgat of South Africa assumes the role at ICC’s Anuual General Council at the beginning of July.

Speed has served as the ICC’s CEO since July 2001 and is only the second person to have filled the role in the organisation’s 99-year history. He succeeded David Richards, who was CEO from 1993 to 2001.