David Morgan: 'Contrary to that has been gossiped on a widespread basis, it is nothing to do with the ICL or the IPL' © Getty Images

Speaking at Lord's, Morgan said that the breakdown had come about over a number of issues, and insisted that they pre-dated the executive board meeting in Dubai in March when Speed declined to attend the press conference in protest over the ICC's decision to take no action against Zimbabwe.

"It's not been [a problem] for years but, yes, for some months," Morgan said. "It pre-dates the March meeting but it doesn't pre-date the death of Percy Sonn [in June 2007]. Matters take some time to come to the surface.

"Zimbabwe is an issue where the president and the chief executive have disagreed, there is no doubt about that," he said. "You know what the board decision was in relation with the KPMG report ... Speed was clearly uncomfortable with that."

But he refused to specify which members of the executive were involved and how many. "I'm not prepared to reveal the names of the other board members. I'm unprepared to go into the details of the other issues, but I'm very ready to say that contrary to that has been gossiped on a widespread basis, it is nothing to do with the ICL or the IPL."

Morgan said the agreement for Speed to go had "not been imposed on him" but had followed discussion between him, Mali and Speed. "It's a very unfortunate ending to what has been a very successful term of office," he added.

However, Morgan accepted that the image of the ICC was "not good" and it was "something we need to address". He went on: "The ICC has achieved a huge amount in Malcolm's time. I do not believe at all times that we govern in the optimum way, but govern we certainly do"

In the statement yesterday the ICC said that David Richardson, the ICC general manager - cricket, will serve as interim CEO until Speed's replacement, Haroon Lorgat, assumes the role at the ICC's annual conference at the beginning of July.