The former India captain had come under fire for criticising the ICC as a commentator and columnist.
His tenure in the committee was marked by a number of innovative decisions, including the referral system in Tests, introduction of the hawk-eye technology for deciding LBWs, “free hits” and the “power play” rule.
“Gavaskar conveyed his decision to the ICC on Wednesday after chairing the meeting of the cricket committee, which concluded in Dubai on Tuesday,” ICC’s acting CEO David Richardson said in a statement on Thursday. The ICC had in March put Gavaskar on notice after his comments did not go down well with the body’s top brass, asking him to choose between his job as a commentator and columnist and that of chairman of the cricket committee. Gavaskar took over as chairman of the ICC cricket committee from West Indian Clyde Walcott in June 2000. He was given a one-year extension in 2006 and was re-elected to the post in 2007. His term was due to end next year.
There’s still confusion over who will succeed Gavaskar as head of the committee.
Gavaskar said that with more and more cricket being played, it was not possible for him to do justice to both jobs.