Pakistan's Zaheer Abbas appointed as new ICC president

Zaheer, 67, filled the vacancy in the largely honorary role left by Mustafa Kamal, who resigned in April after falling out with the ICC's Indian chairman over who should hand out the World Cup trophy.

Zaheer Abbas, the former Pakistan captain, was appointed president of the International Cricket Council at the sport's governing body's annual conference in Barbados on Tuesday.

In-this-August-21-2006-file-photo-former-Pakistan-Test-cricketer-Zaheer-Abbas-speaks-on-the-phone-as-he-walks-towards-the-team-bus-at-the-Oval-in-London-England-Abbas-has-been-announced-as-the-new-president-of-the-ICC-filling-in-the-spot-left-vacant-after-the-resignation-of-Bangladesh-s-Mustafa-Kamal-AP-Photo

Zaheer, 67, filled the vacancy in the largely honorary role left by Mustafa Kamal, who resigned in April after falling out with the ICC's Indian chairman over who should hand out the World Cup trophy. Kamal, as the titular head of the ICC, expected to present the trophy but chairman N Srinivasan awarded it to the victorious Australian side at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in late March.

The Bangladeshi, who was criticised by the ICC for an outburst over a no-ball decision earlier in the tournament, slammed the governing body saying "these type of people should be kept away from cricket".

Zaheer, one of his country's finest batsmen who played 78 tests and 62 one day internationals from 1969 to 1985, is likely to prove a less controversial holder of the office. "I feel truly honoured and humbled to be appointed as the president of the governing body of our great game," he said in a news release.

"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."