Howard receives backing for ICC post

John Howard, right, shares a drink with the current ICC president David Morgan on day one of last summer's Cardiff Ashes Test

Former Australia Prime Minister John Howard has been jointly nominated for the presidency of the International Cricket Council by Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket.

David Morgan, a former chairman of the ECB, is currently president of the ICC but will finish his two-year term later this year to be replaced by current vice-president Sharad Pawar of India.

The rotation policy means that Australasia's candidate will take over in two years' time. Howard will initially become vice-president before progressing to the presidency.

The 70-year-old former Liberal Party leader said: “It is a great honour to be nominated by Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket for the vice-presidency of the International Cricket Council from June-July 2010.

“Cricket has been one of my lifelong passions and, if the ICC accepts my nomination, it will be a privilege to serve this great game.”

His appointment will not be officially recognised by the ICC until June, however the boards of both nations are delighted Howard has accepted after a process that included the input of respected businessman Sir Rod Eddington.

“We are pleased that an eminent candidate in John Howard has agreed, after an exhaustive process, to take the role of joint Australia-New Zealand nominee for the ICC presidency,” said CA chairman Jack Clarke and his NZC counterpart Alan Isaac.

“It was an extremely difficult decision and ultimately relied on the input of Sir Rod Eddington, whom both cricket boards respect enormously.

“The ICC faces significant and complex internal and external challenges in its quest for cricket to become a genuinely global sport.

“Australia and New Zealand considered a number of distinguished candidates of global stature before deciding to invite John Howard to consider the role.”