John Howard - A Disputed Name in ICC Lobbies
World cricket is facing a serious political rift over John Howard’s nomination for the ICC's vice-presidency. The issue took another hit when Sri Lanka announced that it would not support Howard’s candidature. Earlier on Wednesday, the cricket boards of Zimbabwe and South Africa lead an initiative to block Howard's nomination as the president-designate of the ICC.
John Howard, the former Australian prime minister, was jointly nominated by Australia and New Zealand.
The South African Cricket board took up the issue in the strongest of manners. Mtutuzeli Nyoka accused David Morgan of disregarding the emotions of a devastating number of ICC directors who were against Howard's nomination. Nyoka said that Morgan has made the issue a personal cause.
Morgan has defended Nyoka's charge. In an email exchange with the CSA president Mtutuzeli Nyoka, he made it clear that he has no personal agenda and all that he has done was according to the ICC constitution. He is expected to defend his position. He said that it is the prime responsibility of the directors to act in the best interest of the ICC members, putting aside their personal agendas.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has a region-based nomination system for presidency. This year it was the turn of New Zealand and Australia to nominate a candidate.
Sri Lanka and South Africa expressed their opposition to his candidature in ICC’s last meeting in Dubai, two months ago.
Zimbabwe Cricket has clearly expressed its strong reservations about Howard’s nomination. It is certain that, if the matter reaches that point, Zimbabwe will vote against him.
Somachandra de Silva, Sri Lanka Cricket's interim committee chairperson, while talking to the media said that they would not support Howard’s nomination because he does not have any cricketing background. To nominate some outsider for the vice-presidency is wrong on principle.
De Silva said, "We would support any of the directors from Australia and New Zealand who are representatives of the ICC, but not anyone from outside.”
Anyone being nominated for ICC posts should currently be involved in cricket. A total outsider will not be acceptable at any cost.
Howard in 2004 was heavily criticized in Sri Lanka when he objected the bowling action of Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. He commented on Murali’s bowling action twice. The comments came just before Sri Lanka was scheduled to tour Australia for a Test series.
On the news of his nomination, the off-spinner said that he has forgiven Howard, but to succeed in his bid to become the ICC President, Howard would have to clear his intentions against the sub-continent.
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia and New Zealand stand firmly behind their man.
Peter Young, the CA spokesperson, told a media reporter, "We remain rock solid in our support of the nomination"
He said that Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket went through a comprehensive professional procedure after which they have come up with a unified nomination. Young said that he is the best possible candidate they could put forward. He said that they have made it clear to the ICC that they will keep on their joint support for his nomination.
Australia's position got an unqualified support from New Zealand cricket. Justin Vaughan, the NZC chief executive, said.
"We believe we went through a very robust and thorough process. We believe ICC should accept that and accept the nomination."
He said that they have not yet heard any notification from ICC regarding Howard’s disputed candidature. He made it clear that they are not going to consider any other scenarios than John Howard being their man.
Howard requires seven votes from ten Test-playing countries to be the vice-president while only four votes are required to block his candidature. Three countries are already opposing him; another negative vote would rule him out.
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