Pawar returns, rejects talk of divide in world cricket

MUMBAI: Sharad Pawar on 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 this morning after taking charge as president during the ICC Executive Committee meeting in Singapore.Upon arrival, theunion agriculture minister was bombarded with questions about Asian bloc'srefusal to back Howard but he rejected talk of any divide by insisting that theformer Australian Prime Minister just didn't get enough support in ademocratically-held election."The majority did not support him.Ultimately in any democratic organisation, there has to be support from themajority but that was not there in his case," he said.Asked whetherthe rejection would divide world cricket, Pawar said, "I don't think so. We havediscussed the matter individually and collectively with everybody includingAustralia, England and New Zealand. We took a collectivedecision."The 69-year-old Pawar will now have to shoulder twinresponsibilities of being a minister and ICC president but the veteranpolitician said would be able to handle with a little help from Prime MinisterManmohan Singh."Fortunately the ICC headquarter is in Dubai andDubai works on Saturday and Sunday. So, it's a matter of two hours flight. So, Ithink there won't be any difficulty. Secondly I will discuss with Prime Ministerabout my responsibilities and will take appropriate decision so that mygovernment work is not affected," he said."I may suggest for morehands. I had asked for three ministers but they have given only one. If Irequest to reduce some of my work, we may find some solution. I won't allow mywork in government to suffer," he said.Asked what he considers thebiggest challenge of his new job, Pawar said, "We have to preserve all theformats of the game. Today we have 105 countries who are ICC members. But intrue sense unless we expand the game to China, USA, some parts of Eastern Europeand some parts of Africa, the game would not reach every corner of theworld."