Eng, Aus fear India8217;s importance: Gavaskar

8220;The cricketing world has found that India has no longer a diffident voice in the international cricketing community, but a confident one that knows what is good for its cricket, and will strive to get it,8221; the former India captain wrote.

8220;What may have worried these people was the manner in which India defended its player Harbhajan Singh on the 8216;racist8217; allegation made against him.

8220;When all the technology in the world was unable to prove that he had indeed said anything, these guys, especially those in Australia, having got so used to getting it their way, were unable to stomach it.8221;

India lost the heated four-test series in Australia 2-1 but won the one-day tri-series after beating the hosts 2-0 in the finals.

India, the financial centre of the global game, is currently second in the ICC test rankings.

After Indian board chief Sharad Pawar was awarded the ICC presidency for 2010, the shortlisting of Inderjit Bindra as a possible successor to Malcolm Speed as ICC chief executive did not go down well with the British and Australian press, Gavaskar added.

8220;As soon as Mr. Bindra8217;s name was announced there were a flurry of articles in England and Australia that giving him the job would put too much power in India8217;s hands,8221; he said.