PCB nominates Zaheer Abbas for ICC presidency

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has nominated legendary batsman and former captain Zaheer Abbas as a candidate for the presidency of the game’s world governing body.

The cricket board has sent its nomination to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

67-year-old Abbas, dubbed the 'Asian Bradman' at the peak of his career, is widely regarded as one of Pakistan’s best-ever batsmen. Former captains Majid Khan and Asif Iqbal were seen as other front runners for nomination to the ICC presidency.

The development comes a day after former Pakistan cricket chief Najam Sethi withdrew as sole nominee for ICC president, and called for a top former player to take his place.

Sethi quit as PCB chairman last year after a long series of court battles in a power struggle with his predecessor, but was nominated for the post of ICC president.

The ICC was due to consider Sethi’s nomination in their board meeting in Barbados later this month and he would have taken charge for one year from July 1.

But Sethi said on Monday the ICC’s recent announcement that the president’s post will only be open to leading former players from July 2016 prompted him to take the decision.

"I have withdrawn my candidature," Sethi said. "Since the ICC announcement... 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."

The post of ICC president has become largely ceremonial after the body passed reforms last year which made the chairman the head of the organisation.

The role now rotates among member countries who nominate people for the post.