Sports

ICC President nominee Zaheer Abbas vows to bring more cricket in Pakistan

Pakistan’s former Test captain says he will use his position to talk to other boards, top officials in the ICC

Sports Desk June 03, 2015

Zaheer Abbas. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: Pakistan’s former Test captain Zaheer Abbas, after being nominated for the post of ICC President, said that he will try to bring in more international teams to tour the country.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) nominated Zaheer as the nominee on Tuesday after former chairman Najam Sethi withdrew in favour of an ‘iconic cricketer’.

The head of PCB Executive Committee, Sethi, was scheduled to take over as ICC President this month for a year-long term but withdrew as world governing body said it was seeking distinguished ex-cricketers for the job.

The ICC will appoint the new President at its next board meeting to be held in Barbados later this month.

"I am honoured that the PCB has entrusted me this responsibility and I look forward to representing Pakistan in the ICC,” Zaheer told Press Trust of India.

“I will use my position to talk to the other boards and the top officials in the ICC to convince them to support Pakistan in revival of international cricket in Pakistan after the successful tour by the Zimbabwean team.”

Zaheer has been nicknamed the ‘Asian Bradman’ for his extravagant batting where he scored 108 centuries in his first class career meanwhile representing Pakistan in 78 Tests and 62 ODIs.

Zaheer said he wanted to be linked to cricket in whatever position.

"Though it is an honorary position but what is important is that the PCB has picked a former player for their nomination. It is a great way to pay tribute to the services of former players," he said.

On Monday, Sethi wrote a letter to ICC saying, "Since the ICC announcement that from next year the post of the ICC president will be open only to iconic Test cricketers nominated by member Boards, I have increasingly felt that it is only fitting that this rule should be implemented straightaway so that one of Pakistan’s great iconic cricketers should be so honoured."