Abbas succeeds Bangladesh’s Mustafa Kamal in ceremonial role
The former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas has been appointed as president of the International Cricket Council for the next year at the annual conference of the sport’s world governing body in Barbados on Tuesday. The 67-year-old succeeds Bangladesh’s Mustafa Kamal in the ceremonial post, which passes between cricket’s national governing bodies on annual rotation.
A stylish and prolific batsman for both Pakistan and Gloucestershire throughout the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s, Zaheer scored more than 5,000 runs in 78 Tests, 2,500 in 62 one-day internationals and more than 34,000 in a professional career that brought him 108 centuries – making him the only Asian batsman to make a century of first-class centuries.
Zaheer, 67, filled the vacancy in the largely honorary role left by Mustafa Kamal, who resigned with a blast at the organization in April after falling out with the ICC’s Indian chairman over who should hand out the World Cup trophy.
Kamal, as the titular head of the ICC, expected to present the trophy but chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan awarded it to the victorious Australian side at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in late March.
Zaheer, one of his country’s finest batsmen who played 78 tests and 62 one day internationals from 1969 to 1985, is likely to prove a less controversial holder of the office.
“I feel truly honored and humbled to be appointed as the president of the governing body of our great game,” he said in a news release.
“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.”
Srinivasan, who because of India’s financial muscle holds the real power at the ICC, congratulated Zaheer.
“Zaheer’s outstanding career as a stylish right-handed batsman is reflected in his remarkable record with 108 first-class hundreds and more than 7,500 international runs,” he said.
“Zaheer is clearly an iconic cricketer who always played the game with skill, flair and in the true spirit. He is a worthy ambassador of our great game.”
