India turns on 'closet racist' John Howard
Indian media commentators have branded John Howard a "closet racist" after he refused to withdraw his bid to be vice-president of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Mr Howard was rejected from the post earlier this week following strong but unexplained objections from several high-profile cricketing nations including India, South Africa and Pakistan.
In India which is the most powerful nation blocking Mr Howard's bid high-profile media commentators accused the former Australian prime minister of being a symbol of the past.
"Why should a museum piece, a symbol of the black-white divide, dare or dream of entering world cricket," said Times Now presenter Arnab Goswani.
"By doing so, we seem to have upset other closet racists."
Newspaper columnist Suhel Seth chimed into the debate, labelling Australia a racist country.
"There is nothing secular or non-racial about them," he said.
Outgoing ICC president David Morgan, a Welshman nominated by the England and Wales Cricket Board, said he had "deep regret" about the Howard impasse.
"It was a great disappointment," Morgan said.
"John Howard had all the attributes to be a very good vice-president and subsequently president of the ICC. I think he would have brought a lot to it."
The ICC still refuses to publicly outline the reasons for Mr Howard's rejection, and chief executive Haroon Lorgat stated flatly at the conclusion of the ICC conference on Thursday that none needed to be given.
"The ICC board does not have to give a reason," Lorgat told reporters while flanked by new president Sharad Pawar.
"There were not sufficient number of directors in support of the nomination and it did not go to a vote and the outcome was to request Cricket Australia and the New Zealand Cricket to reconsider their nomination and return to the ICC by the 31st of August."
However, Indian board sources have indicated that the most powerful cricketing nation was worried by the thought of an "outsider" in such an influential position.
"Frankly, we did not want an outsider to meddle with the ICC," an official from the Indian cricket board told AFP.
Indian media commentators have branded John Howard a "closet racist" after he refused to withdraw his bid to be vice-president of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Mr Howard was rejected from the post earlier this week following strong but unexplained objections from several high-profile cricketing nations including India, South Africa and Pakistan.
In India which is the most powerful nation blocking Mr Howard's bid high-profile media commentators accused the former Australian prime minister of being a symbol of the past.
"Why should a museum piece, a symbol of the black-white divide, dare or dream of entering world cricket," said Times Now presenter Arnab Goswani.
"By doing so, we seem to have upset other closet racists."
Newspaper columnist Suhel Seth chimed into the debate, labelling Australia a racist country.
"There is nothing secular or non-racial about them," he said.
Outgoing ICC president David Morgan, a Welshman nominated by the England and Wales Cricket Board, said he had "deep regret" about the Howard impasse.
"It was a great disappointment," Morgan said.
"John Howard had all the attributes to be a very good vice-president and subsequently president of the ICC. I think he would have brought a lot to it."
The ICC still refuses to publicly outline the reasons for Mr Howard's rejection, and chief executive Haroon Lorgat stated flatly at the conclusion of the ICC conference on Thursday that none needed to be given.
"The ICC board does not have to give a reason," Lorgat told reporters while flanked by new president Sharad Pawar.
"There were not sufficient number of directors in support of the nomination and it did not go to a vote and the outcome was to request Cricket Australia and the New Zealand Cricket to reconsider their nomination and return to the ICC by the 31st of August."
However, Indian board sources have indicated that the most powerful cricketing nation was worried by the thought of an "outsider" in such an influential position.
"Frankly, we did not want an outsider to meddle with the ICC," an official from the Indian cricket board told AFP.
