Pawar takes over at ICC
Sharad Pawar on Thursday became only the second Indian after his one-time adversary Jagmohan Dalmiya to occupy the top post at the International Cricket Council.
Pawar took over as ICC president from England’s David Morgan at the world cricket governing body’s annual conference that concluded in Singapore on the day.
A seasoned politician, the 69-year-old is also a Union minister, and his appointment comes 10 years after Dalmiya rose to the coveted position. Pawar will lead the ICC for two years, but at least for the initial phase, he’ll be without a deputy.
The controversial rejection of former Aussie Prime Minister John Howard’s bid for the vice-president’s job presumably due to lack of experience in sports administration, has also pushed Pawar into the spotlight.
Pawar gained a toehold in cricket administration in 2001 when he beat former India captain Ajit Wadekar to take over the Maharashtra Cricket Association reins. He headed the Board of Control for Cricket in India from 2005 to 2008 and was ICC vice-president thereafter, but critics have lashed out at him for not being able to give full attention to the sport.
Former ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed on Thursday claimed that Pawar knew “little about cricket administration”.
“I was present at several ICC board meetings that he attended. The ICC meetings generally last two days. Pawar attended for an hour and was then replaced by one of the Board of Control for Cricket in India apparatchiks. They were concerned that he was too busy and would be too reasonable,” he said.
Pawar is unfazed and says he wants to build on Morgan’s legacy. “David has set the principles by which the ICC operates and now it is our responsibility to carry on the good work,” Pawar said.
The politician had expressed interest in the ICC top job two years ago, but found that former England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Morgan in his way. The duo then reached an agreement by which the latter would head the body from 2008 to 2010 before paving the way for Pawar. It bode well for Pawar as well since it ensured he would head ICC at the time when the sub-continent hosts the World Cup in 2011.
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