Giles Clarke is poised for a tilt at the most powerful job in cricket, and finally realise his long-held ambition of becoming chairman of the International Cricket Council, if the position becomes vacant this week.

Telegraph Sport can reveal the current holder, Shashank Manohar, has been given until Thursday to confirm if he intends to see out his full term in office, which is due to end in June 2018.

Manohar resigned suddenly in February but was persuaded to return to chair the ICC’s last meeting in March and stay on until the governing body’s annual general meeting next month. But he has not publicly committed to the job for any longer.

Manohar has been given a deadline to make a decision of May 11, the same day any nominations for his replacement also have to reach the ICC. Jockeying for his position has been going on for weeks, and Clarke is in pole position to become ICC chairman in the event of Manohar standing down.

If Manohar goes the election for his replacement will take place at the ICC’s annual general meeting and conference in London between June 19-23.