Worcestershire: Pears seek new chair after Fanos Hira retires

Worcestershire chair Fanos Hira has retired from his role at New Road.

The 55-year-old will also step down as a Worcestershire board member.

"His efforts and commitment, as a volunteer, have been tireless over the years," said vice chair Paul Pridgeon. "Fanos has guided the club through very tough times.

"Substantial governance reform, the challenging Covid years, and the recent cost-of-living crisis. His impact on the club cannot be underestimated."

Hira was also commissioned by the England and Wales Cricket Board to produce a financial review of the ECB, which became public earlier this year.

He has been involved with the Pears since joining a subgroup of the board in 2014, then the main board in 2016, before succeeding Stephen Taylor as chair in 2018.

"It's been an honour to be involved so closely with Worcestershire over such a long period," he said.

"There have been many highlights for me, but this season, it has been particularly pleasing to see the progress in white-ball and red-ball cricket."

Worcestershire will start next season back in the top flight of the County Championship, after being promoted for a record seventh time.

The club will now initiate an open process to appoint Hira's successor.