I will get more teams to play in Pakistan: Zaheer Abbas
Karachi: Nominated as Pakistan's candidate for the post of ICC
President, former Test captain Zaheer Abbas says he will strive to get
more international teams to play in his country. The Pakistan Cricket
Board (PCB) on Tuesday nominated Abbas as their nominee after former
Chairman Najam Sethi withdrew from the position.
Sethi, who now heads the PCB Executive Committee, was scheduled to
take over as ICC President this month for a 12-month 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. 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," Abbas told
PTI.
Abbas, 67, earned the sobriquet of "Asian Bradman" for his run-making
feats as he scored 108 centuries in his first class career and also
represented Pakistan in 78 Tests and 62 one-day internationals.
Abbas, who last year was a member of the PCB's management committee
and also became consultant of the Pakistan team for a short while, 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.
Zaheer said he was impressed by the decision taken by Najam Sethi to
step down for the post of ICC President after being nominated by the
PCB.
"Pakistan needs more representation in the ICC and it will be a new
experience for me in this role," he said.
Sethi in his letter to ICC Chairman N Srinivasan said he welcomed
ICC's move to make the job open for former cricketers.
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