Cricket South Africa’s director of cricket and former captain Graeme Smith has backed his one-time on-field rival and now BCCI President Sourav Ganguly for the post of the ICC chief.

"The president of the ICC now becomes a very key position in terms of how the game can progress and progress at the right level. It would be great to see a cricket man like Ganguly to get into the role of the ICC president. That will be good for the game. He understands the game, he has played at the highest level and he is respected. That is going to be an interesting time for international and it is going to be a great appointment," Smith said.

Smith mentioned his previous dealing with Ganguly and recently, India agreed to tour South Africa for three T20I matches in August if things get better by then.

"He (Ganguly) has credibility and leadership. Someone like Ganguly is best positioned for that (the ICC role)... He is got the credibility, leadership and can take the game forward. The elections are coming, there are, of course, few other names in the hat, but in my opinion, someone with modern (perception) for the game should be the candidate," the former South Africa captain said.

Ganguly's term as the BCCI chief could end in July, if the Supreme Court doesn't allow an extension and many in the cricketing fraternity believe that the former India captain's credibility will play an important role for the ICC in such trying times.

The same sentiments were echoed by CSA’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jacques Faul, who said,” Our engagements with Sourav has been positive and his willingness to help us. if we would support an Indian candidate (as the ICC chief) and at this stage, we would. From CSA point of view, we don't see problems in supporting an Indian candidate.”

With Cricket South Africa openly rooting for Ganguly, it needs to be seen what the all-important ICC board meeting on May 28 decides.

(sportstar.thehindu.com inputs)