Part of the African bloc that thwarted John Howard's bid for the ICC vice-president's post, Zimbabwe Cricket chief Peter Chingoka said the former Australian Prime Minister was rejected as he was not experienced enough for the job.
Chingoka said it "goes without saying" that Australia and New Zealand have to put forth an experienced name and the candidate should be "somebody who's come through hands-on in cricket".
"No one has a problem with an Australian candidate, no one has a problem with a New Zealand candidate - if it's an individual we can accept," Chingoka told The Age.
"There is a lot of talent in Australia and New Zealand. I could give you at least six names from Australia who have been on the Australian board or the board of the ICC who are very competent and would be immediately suitable, I can give you two or three names from New Zealand who would be immediately suitable," he added.
Chingoka refuted suggestions that Howard was rejected because of his past criticism of the Robert Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe.
{{/usCountry}}Chingoka refuted suggestions that Howard was rejected because of his past criticism of the Robert Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe.
{{/usCountry}}"That is an excuse that has been used because of the denial of the reasons given (to Howard and the countries), because it's a convenient excuse," he said.
Asked whether Howard's rejection would leave ICC a divided house -- that too on racial lines, Chingoka said, "If I stand against you in an election for an organisation one of us has to win and the other one has to live with it."