Cavanagh, the head of CGS between 2007 and 2015, has been nominated by Bowls Scotland.

The national governing body describes him as having an "excellent record in strategic development, management and leadership across regional, national and international levels of sport, most notably at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games".

Cavanagh, the recipient of an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s New Year's Honours list for 2017, is the current interim principal of the sportscotland national sports training centre in Inverclyde.

He previously held the post of sports development lead manager at sportscotland.

A former Commonwealth Games and international wrestler, Cavanagh has worked with Bowls Scotland to support strategic direction for the past three years.

As CGS chairman, he led the organisation through their contribution to Glasgow 2014, where Scotland had their most successful Commonwealth Games, winning a total of 53 medals, including 19 golds.

He also initiated and implemented the modernisation and improvement of CGS’s governance during his eight-year tenure.

"Having worked with Michael on Bowls Scotland’s strategy and vision for the future of the game, we were hugely impressed by his leadership skills, his ability to get the best out of people, his drive and enthusiasm, his knowledge of strategic planning and his ability to connect with people at any level," Bowls Scotland chair Sue Beatt said.

"We are positive that he is the ideal person to take our great sport forward into the modern age and maximise the resources available."

Member nations of World Bowls will vote for the next President of the international governing body with the successful candidate due to be named in April.

Candidates will be vying to replace Englishman John Bell, whose second two-year term is coming to an end, and undertake the position until 2020.

Bell, a former international for his country as well as a world champion, was re-elected unopposed in September 2016. 

Before becoming President of World Bowls, he served as an official and administrator for many years after his career as a player.

Bell said that the lack of other nominations for the role was an "endorsement" of what he and his Board members had done in the preceding two years.

Anyone nominated as a director of World Bowls has to be a member of a club but cannot be a current director or staff member of a national governing body.