"I have resigned as the ministry was delaying signing a deal with (communications and marketing company) Nimbus that won a tender for a cricket marketing deal," Asghar told Reuters on Tuesday.

A senior official at the sports ministry acknowledged receiving the resignation letter and said an official would soon be assigned to look after BCB affairs.

Singapore-based Nimbus Communications Limited last week won a BCB tender to sell marketing rights for six years until 2012.

The $56.88 million deal is yet to be signed, the sports ministry official said.

Asghar had been cricket board president since 2001.