There was pressure on me to continue but my conscience no longer permitted me to: Shashank Manohar

Manohar is now in line to become ICC's first ever independent chairman and could hold the position till 2021.

New Delhi: After bringing several reforms in the Board of Cricket for Control in India (BCCI), Shashank Manohar on Tuesday stepped down as its president.

While several BCCI officials were against his resignation, the Nagpur-based lawyer said that his conscience didn't permit him to continue.

Speaking to The Times of India, Manohar said, "After taking over as the BCCI president for the second time (in October) I did my best and brought in major changes in the organisation. I feel certain portions of the Lodha panel's recommendations are not in the interests of the board. There is very little I can do in the current scenario. My conscience no longer permits me to continue."

Manohar also said that he was not very keen on a second stint as BCCI president, but did so for the betterment of the board.

"If you recall, I was not very keen to return to the BCCI for a second stint. After Jagmohan Dalmiya's sudden demise, when board members requested that I lead the BCCI again, I agreed because I felt it was time for me to give back something to the institution that serves Indian cricket," he said.

Agreeing to the fact that the officials wanted him to say, Manohar added, "I must say there was pressure on me to continue but I have never felt comfortable hanging on to any post without contributing significantly."

Manohar took over as chief in October 2015 after the death of Jagmohan Dalmiya​.

As per ICC's new rule, Manohar, who replaced N Srinivasan as ICC's chairman in November 2015, would not have been eligible to contest for the chairman's post in the upcoming ICC elections, if he had held on to his position with BCCI.

Manohar's resignation has come days ahead of ICC's secret ballot to elect its first independent chairman.

He is in line to become ICC's first ever independent chairman and could hold the position till 2021.