John Howard’s ICC presidency bid falls at final hurdle

Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard (Photo: RD Ward)

Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard has failed in his bid to become ICC Vice President at the organisation’s annual meeting in Singapore.

The 70-year-old was nominated to take the post by the boards of New Zealand and Australia, which would lead to Howard becoming President in two years time.

However, Zimbabwe and South Africa raised concerns about his appointment during an ICC meeting in Dubai earlier this year, a stumbling block which quickly snowballed.

Of the ten full-member boards only England were prepared to join the Anzac nations in supporting Howard, four short of the seven needed to seal the deal.

“Following lengthy consideration it was recognised that the nomination put forward by Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket did not have sufficient support within the ICC board,” read an ICC statement.

In a joint statement, the Chairman of both Australia and New Zealand’s boards said they were deeply disappointed by the decision.

Howard, a self confessed ‘cricket tragic,’ was a fierce critic of Robert Mugabe during his 11-year tenure as Australian PM and banned the Zimbabweans from touring in 2007.

Current incumbent, Welshman David Morgan, stands down from the largely ceremonial post this week.

He will be replaced by current Vice-President, India’s Sharad Pawar.