I’m not third rate choice for the top ICC post: Isaac

SYDNEY - New Zealand Cricket Chairman Alan Isaac has dismissed reports of him being a ‘third rate’ choice for the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) vice-president’s post after former Australia Prime Minister John Howard and former New Zealand board chairman John Anderson.

Howard’s contention for the post was rejected after he failed to get backing from the cricket boards of Asia and Africa, while Anderson refused to take up the offer after Howard was handed original nomination.

Isaac, 58, asserted that he would not be a puppet pandering to the interests of the ICC.

“I don’t feel like second or third pick and if you talk to anyone who knows me, I’m not a puppet, I am my own person,” The Australian quoted Issac, as saying.

“I’d like to think I’m judged on what I achieve or what I don’t achieve in two, three or four years’ time,” he added.

Isaac said, if selected, he would work to improve things in the ICC.

“As Haroon (ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat) said recently, one of the things we all need to do is to improve the reputation of the ICC,” he said.

Commenting on Howard’s nomination being rejected following lobbying by some of the cricket boards, especially those in Asia, Issac said he was frustrated over the way the former premier was treated by the ICC.

“I can understand why people would say that and like John Howard, it’s a little frustrating that countries weren’t specific about why they didn’t support John,” he said.

“But we live in a democracy and we have to respect the views of other people. You move on,” Issac added. (ANI)