Cricket: John Key appalled at Howard ICC snub

John Howard. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Prime Minister John Key has labelled the International Cricket Council's (ICC) snubbing of John Howard a "shocking decision" and urged the former Australian prime minister to stand his ground.

Key weighed into the debate today after Howard's bid for the ICC presidency was stymied at the executive board meeting in Singapore this week when six of the 10 test-playing nations reportedly signed a letter opposing it.

"I think it's a shocking decision. I saw John on TV saying he's going to hold his ground and I think he should. He really could do the job and he could eat it up for breakfast," Key told Radio Sport today.

Howard, 70, has bullishly refused to withdraw his nomination, with the ICC giving Australia and New Zealand until August 31 to submit a new candidate for the vice-presidency, who will automatically graduate to the presidency after two years.

Said Key: "He (Howard) would be fantastic. I know John well, I met him on numerous occasions when I was leader of the opposition and as prime minister. I think he's been a tremendous leader of Australia, a great politician. He's a great administrator and he loves his cricket... even if he can't bowl very well from what I've seen on TV."

The ICC's rejection of Howard, reportedly led by the Asian nations, seemingly opens the way for New Zealand Cricket's former chairman Sir John Anderson who lost out to Howard as the region's nominee on the ruling of an Australian-chaired subcommittee.

But NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan has raised doubts as to whether the highly respected Anderson would be interested.

"He is a busy man. Since January, he has taken on a few more directorships, he's now the chairman of PGG Wrightsons," Vaughan told The Dominion Post.

"The ICC president's role takes a lot of time if you want to do it well. The other point is the events of the last week have probably made the ICC not quite as attractive a proposition to people as it was.

"I imagine there would be a bit of hesitancy from anyone to put their name forward because you never know if it is going to be torpedoed. We need a bit more clarity from the ICC as to why John Howard was unsuitable and rejected."

Vaughan said NZC fully backed Howard's nomination and was also annoyed at the ICC's decision.

"We were single-heartedly behind John Howard. Although there were certain people that felt that Sir John was a better candidate at the time of selection, we really felt the process and the integrity of the process was more important.

"So from the date the choice was made we have had no hesitation in giving our full support to John Howard.

"NZC is held up as a model of good governance in terms of having independent directors who do what is best for cricket... but that obviously doesn't apply to the ICC and that is shame."

- NZPA