Cricket Australia said yesterday it would not renominate former Australian prime minister John Howard to take over the leadership of the sport's international governing body

Australia refuse to renominate Howard for ICC role

Cricket Australia said yesterday it would not renominate former Australian prime minister John Howard to take over the leadership of the sport's international governing body.

CA said Howard was its best available candidate and had decided not to consider suggesting any other names, and instead would support New Zealand Cricket's nomination of Alan Isaac for the position of vice-president of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"The CA board accepts that the New Zealand nominee, Mr Alan Isaac, is eminently qualified to fill the role of ICC vice-president and president, and given the stance of the ICC Executive Board with the nomination of Mr Howard, will support his name being forwarded to the ICC for ratification," CA said in a statement.

"The Board is disappointed and most concerned by the ICC Executive Board's lack of support of his (Howard's) nomination and regards it as completely unacceptable that no reason has been provided as to why he has not been accepted.

"In the circumstances, the CA Board is not prepared to nominate any other candidate for the role."
Howard's rejection earlier this month was condemned by the Australian and New Zealand prime ministers, Julia Gillard and John Key.

Key slammed the ICC's "shocking" snub of Howard, while Gillard, facing a general election next month, said she offered her full support for Howard to get the role.

CA chairman Jack Clarke said that while his board remained strong in its view that Howard continued to be its best candidate, a fresh approach was needed. "We are not prepared to suggest another candidate but given it is clear Howard will not be supported, we clearly have to consider a new approach," Clarke said in the statement.

"Accordingly, we are pleased to support New Zealand Cricket's suggestion that Alan Isaac be nominated for the role. Alan has a strong cricket and sporting administrative background but the relevant benefit he brings to the table is his strong record as an expert practitioner and adviser in organisational governance and his business and financial acumen."