体坛英语资讯：Australian former PM stands firm after International Cricket Council snub

Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard has refused to withdraw his bid to be president-elect of the International Cricket Council (ICC), despite rejection from ICC's Afro-Asia bloc, Australia's media reported on Thursday.

In an unprecedented move, the sport's governing body has ignored its electoral process by asking Australia and New Zealand to resubmit their joint nomination after rejecting the former prime minister at Wednesday's board meeting in Singapore.

"When people raised some objections and I started to hear murmurs, the suggestion was 'he might withdraw'," a disappointed Howard told The Australian from Singapore on Wednesday night.

"I made it very clear I wasn't going to withdraw and I still have that view."

 Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard

While there was no vote taken at Wednesday meeting, only three countries - Australia, New Zealand and Britain, were in support of Howard.

On Tuesday night, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the West Indies all signed a letter objecting to Howard as a candidate and refusing to let him speak at Wednesday' s board meeting. Zimbabwe did not sign despite its opposition.

"It's a very serious problem for the ICC and for Australia and New Zealand cricket," Howard said.

"The two bodies have faithfully followed a rigorous procedure and put somebody forward in good faith and that procedure has just been ignored, swept aside.

"I'm doubly disappointed because they haven't given me any reason. It's quite unacceptable for a reason not to be given."

Howard conceded the rebuff could be because of political decisions he had made in the past, including his treatment of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.

"All I can say in relation to Robert Mugabe is that if that is the reason I wear the negative attitude as a badge of honor because I don't apologize in any way for the criticism I offer of the Mugabe regime," Howard told Sky News.

"If it was in some way based on past political reasons then that is a very bad precedent to be establishing for the ICC because there are serving politicians holding positions of authority within the ICC.

"I'm not criticizing that but I'm just drawing attention to it. "

Speaking from Singapore last night, Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke said he was "pretty gutted, frustrated and incredibly disappointed".

Howard's refusal to back down and the anger expressed by the Australian and New Zealand cricket boards suggested they may renominate Howard.

"We remain convinced it is reasonable for his nomination to be supported by the ICC executive board and we are deeply disappointed by the position taken at the meeting," Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket said in a joint statement.

Meanwhile, Former International Cricket Council boss Malcolm Speed told ABC on Thursday the world cricket's governing body has insulted Australia and New Zealand by blocking former Prime Minister John Howard's vice-presidential bid.

John Winston Howard was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from March 11, 1996 to Dec. 3, 2007.