Agencies
 
MUMBAI, March 25: Sunil Gavaskar is to be asked to step down as ICC cricket committee chairman due to a conflict of interests between his honorary post and paid role as a columnist and commentator, The Times online edition said on Tuesday. The British newspaper's report said the decision had the full support of ICC (International Cricket Council) members at last week's executive board meeting of the governing body in Dubai.

The ex-India captain described England and Australia as "dinosaurs, still trying to voice their prejudiced opinions in the media, and may not open their eyes and see the reality" in a syndicated column at the weekend.

The report said Gavaskar, a controversial figure since his retirement, was defending his criticism of match referee Mike Procter, after he had ruled against India's Harbhajan Singh for alleged racial abuse of Andrew Symonds in January's Sydney Test.

Gavaskar had reportedly claimed that white South African match referee Procter was biased against Indian players because of their skin colour.

Procter's ruling was subsequently overruled by the appeals commissioner.

The ICC was unavailable for comment when contacted.