Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas has been appointed as president of the International Cricket Council.
– EXCLUSIVE: Shahid Afridi happy to be T20 cricket’s gun for hire
– #360LIVE: Ball-by-ball updates of Sri Lanka vs Pakistan
– Damien O’Donohoe banking on Caribbean colour
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 over 5,000 runs in 78 Tests, 2,500 in 62 one-day internationals and over 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.
He said in a statement released by the ICC: “I feel truly honoured and humbled to be appointed as the president of the governing body of our great game.
BREAKING: Zaheer Abbas confirmed as ICC President during ICC Annual Conference in Barbados http://t.co/o3oYGDedCh pic.twitter.com/BgRTEMphB2
— ICC (@ICC) June 25, 2015
“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.”
ICC Chairman N Srinivasan added: “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.”
South Africa, Zimbabwe and the West Indies will be the next three nations to supply the ICC president, followed by England for the 2019-20 term of office.
The announcement came during the ICC’s Annual Conference week in Barbados, which also saw Serbia approved as an ICC affiliate member while Morocco and Turkey’s memberships were suspended and Brunei’s was removed
