Dubai: Pakistan’s former captain Zaheer Abbas, a former stylish batsmen who was known as Asia’s Don Bradman, was named president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) at the governing body’s annual conference in Barbados on Thursday.
Abbas will become the third former international cricketer to take the role after England’s Sir Colin Cowdrey and West Indies’ Sir Clyde Walcott. The 67-year-old played 78 Tests and 62 ODIs from 1969 to 1985, scoring 5,062 and 2,572 runs respectively.
“I feel truly honoured and humbled to be appointed as president of the governing body of our great game,” Abbas said. “This is the sport which has given us friendship, respect, recognition and an opportunity to serve our countries in different capacities.
“Personally speaking, it has given me more than I can ever possibly repay. I am thankful to all of you for the support and confidence placed in me by confirming my nomination. I am also grateful to the PCB [Pakistan Cricket Board] for proposing my candidacy.
“I assure you all that I will stand shoulder to shoulder with all the ICC members as we continue to strive to inspire more and more people to fall in love with the game we cherish.”
Abbas has inspired UAE cricketers in the past by giving away the annual Shyam Bhatia awards and also inaugurating many cricket academies here.
Abbas, who played some of his finest knocks during his playing days at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, was the first Asian batsman to score one hundred first-class centuries as he finished his 22-year career with 34,843 runs, including 108 tons.
He is a strong campaigner for the resumption of India-Pakistan cricketing ties, telling Gulf News: “It is very important that India and Pakistan play regularly as they have always been keenly contested series, bringing the best out of cricket.”
If that happens, then the UAE is likely to host and Abbas said of the rapid development of cricket in this region: “The UAE, by qualifying for the World Cup, have proved that the standard of cricket is improving in this part of the world. It’s a good sign for cricket.”
Abbas played for English county Gloucestershire and regularly scored more than 1,000 runs in a season.
Though the presidential role is a ceremonial one, with chairman N. Srinivasan having administrative powers, Abbas will be a worthy ambassador for the sport.
With former South African Test player David Richardson as Chief Executive Officer, two of the highest posts in world cricket are now held by former international stars.
The president’s post passes between cricket’s national governing bodies on annual rotation, with the next president to be from South Africa, followed by Zimbabwe, West Indies and England.
Among the other decisions of the ICC board, the Serbia Cricket Federation (SCF) has been admitted as the 58th Affiliate Member of the ICC, but Morocco and Turkey have been suspended and Brunei have been removed as an Affiliate Member.
