NEW DELHI, Dec 29: The powerful Asian bloc in world cricket has nominated Sharad Pawar of India for the presidency of the sport's governing body, an official said on Friday.

Indian cricket board official Ratnakar Shetty said the decision to nominate Pawar was taken at a meeting of the Asian Cricket Council in Singapore.

“Asian Test-playing nations India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have decided on the nomination of Pawar, and it has been sent to the International Cricket Council (ICC),” he said.

Indian board secretary Niranjan Shah had earlier said they hoped to elicit the support of the West Indies also.

The ICC will vote on a successor to current chief, Percy Sonn of South Africa, for a two-year period from 2008 at its annual meeting in July next year.

English cricket chief David Morgan has also reportedly thrown his hat in the ring following backing from Australia and New Zealand.

Nominations for the elections close on January 1, 2007 at the ICC's world headquarters in Dubai.

Pawar, 66, took over the reins of the Indian Cricket Board last year.—AFP