In the cut-throat world of international cricket administration, rich and powerful men have found it difficult to get a proper foothold.

Indian industrialist N. Srinivasan had grand visions to make the International Cricket Council (ICC) the preserve of the Big Three - India, England and Australia - but fell by the wayside.

Former Australian prime minister John Howard made a bid for the presidency with the support of Australia, England and New Zealand, but was thwarted by six member boards.

So, it was a charming surprise that a Singaporean, from a country whose national team do not even have a ground to call their own, is now the ICC's deputy chairman.

Lawyer Imran Hamid, 61, was appointed to the post on June 23 at the ICC's annual conference in London. He became the first person from a non-Test playing nation to be elected to the highest echelons of the sport's governing body.

"Playing with a straight bat has obviously helped," he said. "I am able to participate without fear or favour because I have no vested interest in larger issues. This is a fine example of a Singaporean sports administrator walking the talk on good governance."

Singapore's national team are ranked 23rd in the world. Only 12 national teams have Test status and traditionally, representatives from their boards have held high positions in the ICC.

"Imran has played a significant role in the recent transformation of the governance of the ICC, enabling the long-term growth of the sport. He has passionately represented the views of associate members on the board and has the respect of everyone in the sport," said ICC chief executive David Richardson, 57, a former South Africa international.

"His appointment as deputy chairman was unanimous and uncontested, which reflect the esteem in which he is held by colleagues."

For David Peever, the chairman of Cricket Australia, Imran's skills in drafting difficult resolutions and tactfully handling big egos and bringing them to the same table have been the qualities that have seen him become an important administrator.

Said the 60-year-old: "Imran has shown himself to be a hard and assiduous worker in the interests of global cricket. He always brings very balanced, thoughtful views to the table, and seeks solutions and outcomes in the game's interests."

Imran has been attending ICC meetings since he became president of the Singapore Cricket Association (SCA) in 2005, a post he held until 2015.

In 2011, he was elected deputy chairman of the ICC's 95-member associate nations and in 2015 the chairman - which gave him a place on the executive board.

Last year, he was also made chairman of the development committee and elected vice-president of the Asian Cricket Council.

Since early this year, Imran, along with ICC chairman Shashank Manohar, an Indian lawyer, has played a crucial role in extensively revising the ICC constitution and introducing a radical new governance structure.

The various changes they suggested - including having just two levels of membership (full and associate), bringing in an independent female director, increasing the votes on the board, creating a new position of deputy chairman and giving Test status to Ireland and Afghanistan - were adopted at the ICC board meeting last month.

"Cricket worldwide owes Imran a great debt of gratitude for the work he has done in helping to modernise the governance of the ICC," said Tony Brian, chairman of Cricket Scotland.

"He has been a key player in framing the changes which have made the organisation more transparent and meritocratic."

Imran always wanted to do well in the sport since he started playing backyard cricket at the age of five with his three older brothers, and then at Whitley Secondary School and St Joseph's Institution.

It became more serious when the barrister from Lincoln's Inn was picked for the national team and subsequently became captain.

After leading the Singapore Recreation Club in the local league for years, he stopped playing competitively at the age of 35, turning his attention to administration.

"Imran has always shown the spirit of fair play and unity on and off the field," said M. Neethianathan, 65, a former SCA vice-president and Singapore international who has known Imran for 50 years. "He is deeply passionate about the sport and has worked honestly for its development."

SCA president Mahmood Gaznavi, 55, admires Imran's "right temperament to deal with issues", adding: "He takes into account all views and facilitates discussion aiming, wherever possible, to reach a consensus."

Imran's diplomatic skills and reasoning prowess helped dismantle Srinivasan's move to turn the ICC into the domain of the Big Three, ensuring a level playing field.

"The ICC is a little like the United Nations in which there are many competing interests, and decision-making calls for delicate tactfulness and diplomacy," said Imran. "Often many decisions are made in the corridors of the meetings rather than at the meetings."

His contributions were so impressive that the board members reportedly ignored a proposal by Thilanga Sumathipala, the president of Sri Lanka Cricket, to make himself the ICC chairman when Manohar suddenly decided to quit the post in March, citing personal reasons.

According to sources, Manohar wanted Imran to take over as chairman, but the Singaporean declined and, along with Peever, managed to persuade Manohar to remain in the post until the reforms were carried out and to complete his two-year tenure next year.

Again, England and Wales Cricket Board president Giles Clarke made a strong pitch to become deputy chairman when the position opened up in June. However, the board unanimously endorsed Imran, whose tenure will be for two years.

"There is still a lot to be done at the ICC and Imran for certain will be part of the glue that will bind the board and members together," said Peever. "He will continue to work on issues like strategy for global development and bring his legal knowledge to the table, which is so important."