Sharad Pawar becomes second Indian to head ICC

New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) A man who has earned his stripes
as an astute politician, Sharad Pawar on Thursday became the
second Indian -- after his one time adversary Jagmohan Dalmiya
-- to occupy the top post at the International Cricket
Council.
Pawar's taking over as ICC President means it took 10
years after Dalmiya had quit as ICC Chairman that another
Indian rose to the coveted position.
A seasoned politician, 69-year-old Pawar is not new to
sports administration, being the president of the Maharashtra
Olympic Association and Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA),
besides heading the state kho-kho, kabaddi and wrestling
associations.
Besides, his father-in-law Sadu Shinde was a leg-spinner
for India who died at the age of 31, having played just seven
Test matches for India.
Pawar gained a toehold in cricket administration in 2001
when he beat former India captain Ajit Wadekar to take over
the MCA reins and his rise to the top of the Board of Control
for Cricket in India was not smooth either as it pitted him
directly against the former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya.
His first shot at Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI) President's post led to his only defeat in an election
when Dalmiya's casting vote -- after the scores were tied --
helped Ranbir Singh Mahendra pip Pawar to the post.
Pawar, however, had his revenge as he returned not only
to oust Mahendra in the 2005 election but also cut Dalmiya to
size, eventually leading to the Kolkata-based businessman's
expulsion from the Board.
Pawar headed BCCI from 2005 to 2008 even though
detractors pointed to droughts and mass suicide by farmers to
claim that he was more interested in running BCCI and could
not do justice to the Agriculture Ministry portfolio.
Subsequently Pawar found that former England and Wales
Cricket Board chairman David Morgan stood in his way to occupy
the top ICC post and they reached the agreement that Morgan
would head ICC from 2008 to 2010 before paving way for Pawar.
It suited Pawar as well since it ensured he would head
ICC at the time when the sub-continent hosts the 2011 World
Cup.
Even after serving his term in the BCCI, Pawar remained
the most influential cricket administrator in the country with
Board President Shashank Manohar often turning to him for
advice.
Pawar is perceived to have allowed Lalit Modi a free-hand
when the Indian Premier League was launched even if some of
other board members were not comfortable with Modi's way of
functioning.
Pawar chaired many a troubleshooting exercises at his New
Delhi residence but he he himself got involved in the IPL
controversy with claims that his family made an unsuccessful
bid for a franchise and kept the entire exercise secret. PTI