体坛英语新闻：Australian former PM stands firm after International Cricket Council snub

CANBERRA, July 1 (Xinhua) -- 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.