Calcutta: Come Wednesday and Zaheer 'Zed' Abbas, an all-time great and a former captain of Pakistan, will become the first president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in the legend/eminent one-time player category.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to nominate Zed after Najam Sethi decided to withdraw himself as Pakistan's nominee for 2015-16.

[It will, by the way, be South Africa's turn in 2016-17.]

The eminent one-time player/legend category was to become effective after Pakistan's turn, 12 months later, but Sethi set an example by acting sportingly.

For years hailed as Asia's Bradman, Zed has worn just about every hat in Pakistan cricket - except that of the PCB chairman, that is.

On Saturday afternoon, Zed (67) spoke to The Telegraph from his Karachi residence.

Excerpts...

Q You leave for Barbados on Sunday. Your thoughts on the eve of departure?

A I'm happy that the PCB has nominated me. It's a way of recognising my contribution to the sport. I'm looking forward to becoming the ICC president.

But are you disappointed that your role will wholly be ceremonial?

I'm aware that the real powers rest with the ICC chairman, but the president can help promote cricket and I'll be happy to play my part. Once I'm in Barbados I'll have a better idea of what I'm required to do... Let me first meet colleagues in the ICC and understand what's expected of me... However, ceremonial or not, becoming the ICC president will be a feather in my cap and my CV would, I guess, become more impressive.

Once you become the ICC president, you'll be described as an administrator. Have you ever looked up to one?

Not really, but everyone still talks so highly of the late Abdul Hafeez Kardar, who was the PCB chairman in the 1970s.

An Indian (Narayanswami Srinivasan) is the ICC chairman... Once you become the president, the top positions would be held by an Indian and a Pakistani... How do you look at it?

(Smiles ) People at large would expect an even quicker resumption of bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan... I'm eager to meet Mr Srinivasan and have a discussion on the role the ICC can play in hastening the revival of ties... The Indo-Pak rivalry is huge and fans across the globe want the two countries to play each other regularly, not wait only for the ICC events to come along. Let's leave politics to politicians.

You'll be hoping that Srinivasan doesn't deprive you of giving away trophies... That you don't meet the same fate as Bangladesh's A.H.M. Mustafa Kamal...

I don't foresee problems of any kind, don't expect there to be issues. As the ICC president, I won't say anything which shouldn't be said. Issue kyon ho ga?

Zimbabwe recently made a short trip to Pakistan, marking the return of big-time cricket to your country. Did you watch the five matches (two T20Is and three ODIs) in Lahore?

I was in Dubai then... I did watch the matches on TV, though... As a Pakistani, I was delighted that Zimbabwe honoured their commitment. I was also delighted with the response from fans... Thousands thronged the Gaddafi and made the return of big-time cricket such a success. I hope more teams will visit Pakistan, sooner rather than later.

Is cricket today in a healthy state?

I have no reason to think it is not.

But what about the challenges confronting cricket? Match-fixing and spot-fixing, for example?

I know that the issue of fixing has left many fans disillusioned, but I expect the game to be completely rid of the menace. The ICC and its member Boards are doing everything that can be done, they're doing their best. Of course, sport must be clean.

Isn't there a decline in the overall quality of cricket?

I wouldn't like to say that the quality was better in my time, but it's a fact that the wickets have become batsman-friendly, they're covered and the boundaries have become shorter... Today, I suppose the paying public wants tall scores and big hits... We had to face a string of fast bowlers, had to play on challenging surfaces and didn't have the comfort of helmets till almost the end of our careers. That said, I wouldn't like to belittle any of the cricketers from after 1985, when I last played for Pakistan.

Would you have enjoyed playing the T20 format?

Can't say whether I would have enjoyed it or not, but if the same money was on offer then, I'd certainly have made myself available for T20.

The final one... On Wednesday, when you become the ICC president, are you going to remember somebody more than the others?

Don't think so... There'll be a degree of excitement, yes, and I'll be looking to quickly settle down in the role. I'll have a year, that's it.

Footnote: Zed made a request: "Please give my salaams to Mr (Jagmohan) Dalmiya. I tried calling him on my last visit to India, but couldn't get through." Till late, though, the Board of Control for Cricket in India president's cellphone was off.