South African Imtiaz Patel, whose career spans in sports administration and broadcasting, was selected on Monday as the preferred candidate to take over as chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in July.

India’s IS Bindra will be the ICC’s principal advisor, a new post.

Patel will succeed Australia's Malcolm Speed, who will step down after seven years in office. “There was an absolute consensus on his choice,” said David Morgan, ICC president elect. “He was among the six candidates shortlisted for the job by the ICC executive board from a list of 15 chosen by our consultants. “We still have to negotiate the terms and conditions of the contract with Imtiaz. The initial contract will be for a term of three years,” Morgan said.

Meanwhile, Inder Singh Bindra, former president of the Indian Cricket Board, was named in the new ICC role of principal advisor.

A former Soweto teacher, Patel worked for the United Cricket Board, predecessor of Cricket South Africa, from 1991 to 1999. He served as development director and then director of professional cricket before leaving to join broadcaster Supersport.

Ali Bacher, who was UCB chief executive when Patel joined the body, had rich praise for the new ICC boss. “He is steeped in cricket, and he is passionate about the game,” Bacher said from Johannesburg. “He has also done very well at Supersport, and the biggest single source of income in world cricket is Asian television. He has energy and enthusiasm for cricket, and he comes with no cricket baggage.”

Patel was named Supersport's director of enterprises in 2000 and the network's director of productions in 2003. He was appointed chief executive in 2005. A board member of SA soccer's Premier League, Patel is also a director of Supersport United FC and the Sharks and Cheetahs rugby franchises.