Waugh terms Howard's rejection as a 'real shame'

London:

Launching a scathing attack on the ICC for rejecting the nomination of former Australian Premier John Howard for the post of vice-president, former Aussie captain Steve Waugh on Friday said the move was a "real shame".

ICC asked the Cricket Boards of Australia and New Zealand to re-nominate a person for the job as Howard failed to muster required support to become vice-president of the game's governing body.

"I think it was a real shame, I think he would have been fantastic for world cricket. He has a passion for the game and he is a very good diplomat," Waugh said at a press conference here.

The Afro-Asian bloc did not support Howard but the former Australian PM has still not accepted defeat and has refused to withdraw his nomination.

An irked Waugh said Howard possesses all the qualities to lead the game's governing body.

"I think he would have had the ability to bring people and boards together and I think it was a mistake not appointing him," he said.

Howard was a joint candidate of Australia and New Zealand cricket boards as per ICC's rotation policy and had his candidature been accepted he would have succeeded former BCCI chief Sharad Pawar as ICC President in 2012.

The Afro-Asian bloc did not reveal any reason for their rejection of Howard.