Singapore, July 1
Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sharad Pawar today formally took over as the International Cricket Council (ICC) president, succeeding Englishman David Morgan.

"Sharad Pawar, the former president of the BCCI, assumed the role of the ICC president in succession to David Morgan at the ICC's annual conference," the ICC said. The 70-year-old Pawar, who is also a serving Union Minister in the Indian government, begins a two-year term as the ICC president and on taking over lauded Morgan for his "impressive innings" during the last two years.

"David Morgan has set the principles by which the ICC operates and now it is our responsibility to build on his legacy," he said. Morgan, in turn, hoped Pawar, who has served as his ICC vice-president since 2008, would have a successful stint.

"In the past few days many people have thanked me for my contribution to cricket. All I would say is that cricket has been kind to me it has given me much more than I have given back," he said.— PTI