BCCI president Sharad Pawar has reportedly mustered support from the other three Asian Test playing nations in his bid to climb up the ICC ladder. If he does, Pawar will succeed South Africa's Percy Sonn as ICC chief .

According to the BCCI, Pawar will be a candidate to take over as the new ICC president once Percy Sonn's two-year term is over. Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be favouring Pawar. The BCCI is also hopeful of winning the support of the West Indies also to aid Pawar’s candidature.

With the nomination to be sent to the ICC by January 1, 2007, the BCCI is on an acceleration mode and are working out things faster. Signifcantly, former BCCI chief A C Muthiah heads the ICC nomination committee. Voting on the nominations will take place at the ICC's annual meeting in London in July, 2007.

It may be recalled that the Maratha strongman, who is also the Union Agriculture Minster had hosted a dinner on December 11 for the representatives of the four World Cup co-hosts at his residence in Delhi , and his decision to contest the poll is believed to have taken at that dinner meeting.

It is now left to be seen whether the Pawar would be able to win the support of the ICC associate members. If that too goes well, Sharad Pawar would dictate things in the cricketing world as top boss of ICC.