The cricket boards of South Africa and Zimbabwe are reportedly working to undermine Howard's progression to the post of International Cricket Council president, while Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket remain committed to the appointment.
Incoming president and Indian administrator Sharad Pawar is also believed to be increasingly edgy about partnering with such a high profile figure.
"Pawar, who takes over next month, doesn't really want another politician to be his No.2... That, too, somebody with Howard's profile... The turn of events suits him just fine," a source close to Pawar told the Kolkata Telegraph.
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Under the ICC's process, Howard would serve as vice president under Pawar before taking over the top job in 2012.
His nomination by Australia and New Zealand is meant to be ratified in June, but there is now a strong possibility that the choice will be blocked for the first time in ICC history.
Zimbabwean opposition to Howard was always a likely scenario given his strong opposition to the regime of Robert Mugabe - and the links of Zimbabwe cricket's executive to Mugabe's Zanu PF powerbase.
South Africa have chosen to unite with their neighbour on these grounds, while India's history of voting in solidarity with fellow "non-white" nations does not bode well for Howard.
The ICC's chief executive Haroon Lorgat did not deny the fractious nature of backroom discussions.
"The board has not yet discussed the matter," the ICC's chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, told the website Cricinfo.
"What you might be hearing might have happened on the sidelines but it was not discussed at the board meeting.
"The process is that Australia and New Zealand nominate someone, followed by the board considering the nomination before putting it before the annual conference.
"It is a three-step process.
"It (opposition to Howard's nomination) is speculative at this moment. We haven't yet faced such a scenario; it has not been blocked as yet, nor even considered."
On the subject of what would happen if Howard's nomination was rejected, Lorgat said: "We will probably go back and ask (the same region) for another nomination. But that has never happened and what you are saying is speculative."
