Divisions within the ICC today deepened with Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand asking John Howard not to withdraw his candidacy for the Vice-President's post. The new President Sharad Pawar hit back at his detractors saying the former Aussie PM did not have the majority to support him.A day after the ICC conclave in Singapore, Howard got the backing of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard who said he should give it another shot despite being rejected by the powerful Asian Bloc, raising speculation of a race divide. Pawar, however, rubbished suggestions that rejection of Howard's candidacy would divide world cricket. The 70-year-old Howard has refused to back out and said he was disappointed by the Asian bloc's refusal to specify reasons for not supporting him. New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive Justin Vaughan has also backed Howard.However, Zimbabwe Cricket Chief Peter Chingoka justified the rejection saying that the former Australian Prime Minister was not experienced enough for the job. Chingoka refuted suggestions that Howard was rejected because of his past criticism of the Robert Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe.