<p>According to a report in the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’, although Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket continue to back Howard, they might propose Taylor by the August 31 deadline set by the ICC.<br /><br />“Mark Taylor could be floated as an alternative candidate to John Howard for the ICC vice-presidency at a Cricket Australia board meeting next week,” the report stated quoting sources. Howard was rejected by the Afro-Asian members of the ICC Executive Board and though no specific reasons were given for the snub, there is speculation that the former Australian Prime Minister was seen as somebody with too little experienced and too much of a political baggage.<br /><br />Although CA is seething in anger over Howard’s rejection, it does not want the matter to drag too much, the newspaper reported. Taylor, a successful Australian captain who was succeeded by Steve Waugh, is a member of the ICC’s cricket committee and CA’s board. NZC chief Justin Vaughan said the former Aussie captain is a perfect candidate but the <br />issue would have to be discussed thoroughly before proposing his name.<br /><br />“Mark Taylor is an outstanding individual. But I think it’s too premature to be talking potential candidates at this stage. I think what we all need is to take some time to let the dust settle and reconvene at our respective board meetings,” he said. <br /><br />Confidential matter<br /><br />Cricket Board chief Shashank Manohar refused to comment on the rejection of former Australia PM, John Howard, as vice-presidential candidate at the International Cricket Council’s annual conference in Singapore earlier this week.<br /><br />“As far as the issue of Mr John Howard is concerned, it has been decided and informed to all ICC Board members that nothing on the subject will be discussed outside. Otherwise it will be considered as breach of confidentiality clause,” Manohar said at a press conference on Saturday.<br /><br />Howard’s candidacy was rejected when seven out of ten ICC full members, including India, voted against him at the conclave leading to speculation of a racial divide in world cricket.<br /><br />Asked about Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi’s request to Sports Minister M S Gill to convince the Board to reschedule the two-Test rubber between India and Australia as it clashes with the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, Manohar said the BCCI need not respond as it has not been approached yet.<br /><br />“There’s no need for us to respond as we have not been asked to respond. We have not received any communication. It’s an internal matter between Mr Kalmadi and the Sports Minister,” he said.</p>
<p>According to a report in the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’, although Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket continue to back Howard, they might propose Taylor by the August 31 deadline set by the ICC.<br /><br />“Mark Taylor could be floated as an alternative candidate to John Howard for the ICC vice-presidency at a Cricket Australia board meeting next week,” the report stated quoting sources. Howard was rejected by the Afro-Asian members of the ICC Executive Board and though no specific reasons were given for the snub, there is speculation that the former Australian Prime Minister was seen as somebody with too little experienced and too much of a political baggage.<br /><br />Although CA is seething in anger over Howard’s rejection, it does not want the matter to drag too much, the newspaper reported. Taylor, a successful Australian captain who was succeeded by Steve Waugh, is a member of the ICC’s cricket committee and CA’s board. NZC chief Justin Vaughan said the former Aussie captain is a perfect candidate but the <br />issue would have to be discussed thoroughly before proposing his name.<br /><br />“Mark Taylor is an outstanding individual. But I think it’s too premature to be talking potential candidates at this stage. I think what we all need is to take some time to let the dust settle and reconvene at our respective board meetings,” he said. <br /><br />Confidential matter<br /><br />Cricket Board chief Shashank Manohar refused to comment on the rejection of former Australia PM, John Howard, as vice-presidential candidate at the International Cricket Council’s annual conference in Singapore earlier this week.<br /><br />“As far as the issue of Mr John Howard is concerned, it has been decided and informed to all ICC Board members that nothing on the subject will be discussed outside. Otherwise it will be considered as breach of confidentiality clause,” Manohar said at a press conference on Saturday.<br /><br />Howard’s candidacy was rejected when seven out of ten ICC full members, including India, voted against him at the conclave leading to speculation of a racial divide in world cricket.<br /><br />Asked about Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi’s request to Sports Minister M S Gill to convince the Board to reschedule the two-Test rubber between India and Australia as it clashes with the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, Manohar said the BCCI need not respond as it has not been approached yet.<br /><br />“There’s no need for us to respond as we have not been asked to respond. We have not received any communication. It’s an internal matter between Mr Kalmadi and the Sports Minister,” he said.</p>
