Opposition Mounts to Howard's ICC Vice Presidency

John Howard's nomination for the Presidency of the International Cricket Council (ICC) is in doubt after objections from South African, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka to the former Australian Prime Minister's candidature.
Nominations are normally decided on a rotational basis and as it is Australia and New Zealand's turn to nominate a Vice-President. Under ICC procedures, Howard would normally become ICC president in two years' time.
However, officials from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka have raised concerns about Howard's suitability, citing Howardâs lack of experience when it comes to cricket administration.
It would seem that Zimbabwe Cricket's reservations stem from Howard's repeated criticisms of President Robert Mugabe's regime with South African cricket officials appearing to be backing their neighhbours.
Meanwhile Howard, a self-confessed cricket âtragicâ did not endear himself to Sri Lanka when, during his 11-year term as Prime Minister, he publicly questioned the legitimacy of off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan's action.
Cricket Australia and the ICC are confused and embarrassed by the controversy.
Current ICC President David Morgan was meeting Sharad Pawar, who has been nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to succeed him, to try to establish Indiaâs position on Howardâs candidature.
ICC President-elect Pawar has sought to defuse the row, issueing the following statement "the board of the ICC debated and approved, some two years ago, a nomination process for the presidency and the vice-presidency.
"The board of the ICC had debated and approved the current nomination process for the presidency and the vice-presidency.
"The unanimous decision of the board at the time was that the presidency and the vice-presidency should be decided on a rotational basis.
"The ICC had decided that the next vice-president would be nominated by Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket.
"Those two boards have been through a very thorough and robust selection process to suggest a candidate and now the ICC Board has to consider and decide on this nomination."
The issue of the vice-presidency is set to be discussed at an upcoming ICC board meeting in Singapore.