Pawar returns, rejects talk of divide in world cricket

Mumbai, Jul 2 (PTI) Sharad Pawar Friday arrived from
Singapore after formally taking over as the ICC President and
rubbished suggestions that rejection of John Howard's
candidacy for the vice-President's post would divide world
cricket.
Pawar, who succeeded Englishman David Morgan, returned
here Friday morning after taking charge as President during
the ICC Executive Committee meeting in Singapore.
Upon arrival, the Union Agriculture minister of India was
bombarded with questions about Asian bloc's refusal to back
Howard but he rejected talk of any divide by insisting that
the former Australian Prime Minister just didn't get enough
support in a democratically-held election.
"The majority did not support him. Ultimately in any
democratic organisation, there has to be support from the
majority but that was not there in his case," he said.
Asked whether the rejection would divide world cricket,
Pawar said, "I don't think so. We have discussed the matter
individually and collectively with everybody including
Australia, England and New Zealand. We took a collective
decision."
The 69-year-old Pawar will now have to shoulder twin
responsibilities of being a minister and ICC President but
the veteran politician said would be able to handle with a
little help from Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"Fortunately the ICC headquarter is in Dubai and Dubai
works on Saturday and Sunday. So, it's a matter of two hours
flight. So, I think there won't be any difficulty. Secondly I
will discuss with Prime Minister about my responsibilities and
will take appropriate decision so that my government work is
not affected," he said.
"I may suggest for more hands. I had asked for three
ministers but they have given only one. If I request to reduce
some of my work, we may find some solution. I won't allow my
work in government to suffer," he said.
Asked what he considers the biggesat challenge of his new
job, Pawar said, "We have to preserve all the formats of the
game. Today we have 105 countries who are ICC members. But in
true sense unless we expand the game to China, USA, some parts
of Eastern Europe and some parts of Africa, the game would not
reach every corner of the world." PTI SSR
MRD


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