Few weeks left for the Champions Trophy 2025, and the ICC CEO Geoff Allardice decided to step down from the role! Australia's Allardice, who signed in as the General Manager of Cricket in 2012 and later became the CEO of the ICC in November 2021, has resigned on January 28, amidst the Champions Trophy's unpreparedness. In a statement, Allardice said, "It has been a privilege to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Council, and I am incredibly proud of the results we have achieved, from enhancing the global reach of cricket to the commercial foundation put in place for ICC Members. I believe this is the right time for me to step down and pursue new challenges." Read also: ICC Awards 2024: Complete Winners and Teams List Is Champions Trophy mismanagement the real cause behind Allardice's sudden retirement? Even though the ICC hasn't announced the reason behind the departure of CEO Geoff Allardice, a senior source revealed that issues like the ICC T20 World Cup in the US exceeding its budget and poor playing conditions contributed to his exit. The tipping point was reportedly the lack of clarity on Pakistan's readiness to host the Champions Trophy, starting February 19. Due to security concerns, India's matches will be held in Dubai. The source anonymously informed the PTI, "The ICC T20 World Cup in the US was a big flop in terms of playing conditions and also it exceeded budget, the auditing is still being done. What broke the camel's back was Champions Trophy where as CEO, he was supposed to give a clear picture about readiness of Pakistan to host a tourney of such magnitude." Concerns remain over incomplete venues in Karachi and Rawalpindi, raising doubts about Pakistan's preparedness for the tournament, which features the top eight teams. Despite challenges, ICC Chair Jay Shah praised Allardice's contributions to global cricket and wished him well. Allardice’s exit follows the departures of key figures, including Chris Tetley, Alex Marshall, and Claire Furlong. The ICC Board will now begin the search for his successor as preparations for the Champions Trophy continue.