No politics involved in Howard’s rejection: Pawar

Singapore, July 1 (PTI): Barely a few hours after taking over as ICC President, Sharad Pawar today sought to downplay the controversial rejection of former Australian Premier John Howard as a Vice President candidate, saying there was no political connotation to the issue.

Addressing his first press conference as the top official of the game’s governing body, Pawar said they have asked Australian and New Zealand Boards to find another candidate and submit it to the ICC by August 31.

The 69-year-old Pawar, the second Indian after Jagmohan Dalmiya to occupy the top post, said the rejection of Howard had nothing to do with politics and his policies on Africa, in particular towards Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.

“What is the political connotation? There is no question of political connotation,” Pawar said.