KARACHI, Jan 4: Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday said the decision to nominate Indian cricket board chief Sharad Pawar for the post of ICC president was taken to increase the Asian influence in the world governing body of the sport.

“There is no doubt this is the main reason behind sending Pawar's nomination. The Asian Test playing nations strongly feel there must be more Asian representation in the ICC,” Saleem Altaf, PCB's Director, Cricket Operations said.

Pawar will contest with David Morgan, the Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, for the top ICC post in elections later this year.

But Pawar or Morgan will only take over in 2008 if the sitting ICC chief Percy Sonn is not given an extension by the executive board during its annual meeting in June.

Saleem said Pawar's nomination was a decision taken en bloc by the four Asian Test-playing nations — India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh — with the support of Zimbabwe.

“It is a collective decision because we believe the Asian countries need to increase their influence in the ICC decision making. The ICC is generating majority of its revenues from this region, particularly India,” he said.

He pointed out that presently there was just one Asian in a decision making position at the ICC while another was in a junior position.—Agencies