Sydney, Apr 21 (ANI): Zimbabwe is trying to convince fellow council members that the former Australian Prime Minister John Howard lacks appropriate support to bid for the vice-presidency of the International Cricket Council.
Zimbabwe, a full-voting member of the ICC, told delegates at a meeting in Dubai that Howard did not have the backing of New Zealand, despite that country jointly nominating him for the vice-presidency along with Australia.
Cricket New Zealand is believed to have reiterated its support for Howard, despite initially pushing for their candidate Sir John Anderson, but the matter might not end there, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
An ICC vote on the vice-presidency was deferred to a later date after several members were unable to attend the meeting due to flight restrictions caused by Iceland’s volcanic eruptions.
Under the ICC’s rotational policy, an Australasian nominee will take over the ICC vice-presidency in 2010, and ascend to the presidency in 2012.
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat last night denied Zimbabwe were behind a move to block Howard’s nomination, but confirmed “clarifications were being sought.”
“It was felt clarity on the matter was needed and it will be discussed in the coming weeks,” Lorgat told the Herald.
Howard was a vocal critic of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, a patron of Zimbabwe Cricket, during his time in office.
In 2007, Howard took the dramatic step of banning Australian cricket team from touring the African nation. (ANI)