Sydney Morning Herald
15 June 2010
By Jamie Pandaram
John Howard’s nomination for the ICC vice-presidency has received a boost after Zimbabwe’s Minister for Sport, David Coltart, said suggestions his country would attempt to block the former Australian prime minister were ”groundless”. Coltart is on his way to Australia to smooth relations and discuss Howard’s candidacy. ”In recent discussions I have had with the Zimbabwe Cricket Board through its president and managing director it was made clear to me that no decision has been taken by the board regarding the nomination of Mr John Howard to the position of deputy president of the ICC,” he said in an emailed statement. ”Indeed there is a consensus between me and the board that the purpose of my visit to Australia and New Zealand is to completely normalise relations between Zimbabwe Cricket and Cricket Australia/New Zealand Cricket. Accordingly the press speculation that Zimbabwe will vote against Mr Howard’s nomination is groundless. The issue will be discussed when I meet Cricket Australia this week in Melbourne and my hope is that a mutually satisfactory position on all issues, including Mr Howard’s nomination, will be better understood.”