New chief says ICC not divided after Howard snub

NEW DELHI — Cricket's new boss Sharad Pawar on Friday dismissed suggestions that the world body was a divided house after it rejected John Howard's bid to become his deputy.

The former Australian prime minister's nomination as vice-president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) failed on Wednesday when seven of the 10 Test-playing nations dismissed his candidacy at a meeting in Singapore.

Pawar, 69, who took over as ICC chief on Thursday after serving as vice-president for two years, told Indian reporters on his return from Singapore that Howard had simply failed to garner the requisite backing.

"The majority did not support him," he said. "Ultimately in any democratic organisation, there has to be support from the majority but that was not there in his case."

Howard was put forward as Australia and New Zealand's joint candidate for the ICC's rotating vice presidency, with the expectation that he would be rubber-stamped as its president two years later.

Pawar rejected reports that the ICC's Afro-Asian bloc had caused a major rift in the sports body by refusing to side with Howard, who was also backed by England.

"I don't think there is any division. We have discussed the matter individually and collectively with everybody including Australia, England and New Zealand," he said.
The ICC's policy of rotating presidents, coupled with Pawar's promotion to the top spot, means that the next vice-president must come from Australasia.

The ICC has asked Australia and New Zealand to reconsider their choice and name a candidate by August 31, but the 70-year-old former PM has said he will not quit the race.
Pawar said he was confident of fulfilling all his commitments as ICC president, despite being senior Indian cabinet minister who looks after the crucial agriculture portfolio.

"Fortunately the ICC headquarters are in Dubai where they work on Saturdays and Sundays" he said. "It's a matter of a two-hour flight. There won't be any difficulty."

But Pawar said he would still request Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to lessen his ministerial workload.

"I will discuss with the prime minister about my responsibilities and will
take appropriate decision so that my government work is not affected," he said.
"I may suggest having more hands to help me.

I had asked for three ministers but they have given me only one.

"If I request to reduce some of my work, we may find some solution. I won't allow my work in the government to suffer."

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