International Cricket: Howard rejected, Pawar appointed ICC President
Sharad Pawar, former BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) chief, was appointed the International Cricket Council president today, which is the 1st of July 2010. He replaced David Morgan, becoming only the second Indian after Jagmohan Dalmiya to hold the prestigious post.
Following the Chief Executives’ Committees decision in 1997 at an annual conference, Dalmiya was the first Indian elected for the post of ICC President. But today, Morgan completed his 2 year post and handed the reigns over to Pawar at the ICC Annual Conference in Singapore, making him the seventh ICC President.
Sharad Pawar started his career off as a politician, leading the Nationalist Congress Party, which he had founded in 1999. He served as Defense Minister of India, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Minister of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs before moving on to serve as the chairman of the BCCI from 2005 to 2008.
He has also served as head of different sports organizations, including Mumbai Cricket Association, Maharashtra Wrestling Association, Maharashtra Kabbadi Association and Maharashtra Olympics Association. He also served as the ICC’s Vice President before being appointed the President.
Pawar was honored at the appointment and thanked former ICC President, Morgan in his speech. He congratulated him for his impressive work over the last two years, "David Morgan has set the principles by which the ICC operates and now it is our responsibility to build on his legacy," he added. Morgan in turn wished Pawar, his Vice President since 2008, best of luck in the future and added, "In the past few days many people have thanked me for my contribution to cricket. All I would say is that cricket has been kind to me, it has given me much more than I have given back."
Pawar’s appointment is not free from controversy, as the former Australian Prime Ministers bid was rejected in the process and was instead appointed as the Vice President. Cricket Australia chairman, Jack Clarke was reported saying that the decision was a snub and was sure to affect relations between Cricket Australia and the governing body. "You hope it doesn't affect the relationship but it obviously puts a block there for a while and makes you wary." Gutted and incredibly disappointed that a man of John Howard's stature has been knocked off for this job," he said. Howard was rejected after the influential Afro-Asian group refused to support his candidacy, and the selectors, Australia and New Zealand, were both understandably frustrated.
However, the selection process is based on a rotation system and previously Australia and New Zealand had accepted candidates whom they did not particularly like, and this year they expected the other countries to return the favor. The other nations did not feel Howard to be an appropriate choice and felt the ICC leadership would be much better suited with someone with a stronger political background. It would do no good to Australia and New Zealand to put forward another nominee because according to the rotation system, Pakistan and Bangladesh are next. Pawar’s appointment comes at an important time when India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are set to host the World Cup next year.
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