Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief Sharad Pawar Thursday formally took over as president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) here.

Pawar, who is the second Indian after Jagmohan Dalmiya to occupy the ICC top post, was given the charge during the annual conference week of the world cricket body.

Dalmiya was the first Indian to be elected to the president's post in 1997.

Pawar, who is also the Indian agriculture minister, is the seventh ICC president, succeeding Englishman David Morgan who concluded his two-year term.

He has taken over the top post at a crucial time when India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are scheduled to host the 2011 cricket World Cup.

Pawar begins a two-year term as ICC President and he thankedu00a0 Morgan, a former chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, for his "impressive innings" as ICC President during the last two years.