Singapore, July 1 - Sharad Pawar, former chief of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, was Thursday takes over as president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) succeeding England's David Morgan, the outgoing chief. The spokesperson of ICC, James Fitzgerald told news media today Pawar has taken over as ICC President from David Morgan who concluded his two-year term. The decision was taken at the world cricket body's annual conference, cricket news agencies reported. Pawar, 69, who is Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in the Cabinet of the Government of India, will lead the ICC for two years after having served as Morgan's deputy for a similar period. Pawar's appointment follows the controversial rejection of former Australian Prime Minister John Howard's bid for ICC's vice-president's post. Pawar is the second Indian to hold the ICC's top job after Jagmohan Dalmiya's stint in the late nineties. He praised the leadership of outgoing president Morgan, terming it an 'impressive innings'. "David Morgan has set the principles by which the ICC operates and now it is our responsibility to build on his legacy," Pawar said.