The Zimbabwe Cricket board was to meet on Friday to discuss the candidacy of former Australian Prime Minister John Howard for a senior position on the International Cricket Council, managing director Ozias Bvute said.
Howard was in Harare this week lobbying for Zimbabwe's vote. Bvute said his organization had reached a better understanding with Howard on the future of the sport and cleared the air on many outstanding issues.
Howard was instrumental in bringing about a cricket boycott of Zimbabwe during his tenure as Australian prime minister. He ordered the Australian team not to tour Zimbabwe in 2007 and also called for Zimbabwe to be stripped of its Test status in 2003 at the height of the Southern African country's land reform farm seizures.
Howard was accompanied by Cricket Australia Chairman Jack Clarke. Howard was nominated by Australia and New Zealand for the ICC vice presidency from which he would be elevated to president in two years.
Zimbabwe Cricket's board will decide the position it will take at the ICC meeting in Singapore next week. Zimbabwe Cricket Chairman Peter Chingoka will represent Zimbabwe at the meeting. Zimbabwe still holds ICC voting rights despite not having Test status since 2005. Howard needs the support of seven of 10 Test nations.
Zimbabwe Cricket Managing Director Bvute told VOA Studio 7 reporter Marvellous Mhlanga-Nyahuye that the board decision will be guided by the best interests of cricket in Zimbabwe.