Dubai, Mar 17 South Africa's Imtiaz Patel was today appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Council, pipping India's I S Bindra to the high-profile post.

Patel, a South-African of Indian origin, will succeed Malcolm Speed whose term comes to an end in June this year.

Bindra, a former BCCI President who was among the two candidates short-listed by the ICC's sub-committee, has been named as the ICC's Principal Advisor.

ICC President Ray Mali and President-elect David Morgan announced the decision after the Executive Board's meeting here, saying Patel was the unanimous choice for the post by the 13-member panel.

Morgan said age was never an issue for the post of ICC CEO.

"Since we required a CEO with special skills, if Mr Bindra had been the choice, age would not have been a problem. We would have changed the rules, if need be," he told reporters.

The two-day meeting will conclude tomorrow with decisions on other issues such as Champion Trophy venue. (Agencies)