Cricketing fraternity pays tribute to Sonn's contribution

Cape Town, May 27 (UNI) The entire cricketing world today paid rich tributes to the ICC president Percy Sonn's contribution to the game following his sudden demise from a protracted illness.

Born on 25 September 1949, Percival Henry Frederick Sonn, universally known as Percy, dedicated much of his life to cricket.

He was a lawyer by profession and took over the charge of the high profile post succeeding Ehsan Mani of Pakistan in June 2006.

Mr Sonn was always regarded as an able administrator and a firebrand of the game who spoke his mind too openly for his own good.

ICC CEO Malcolm Speed rembered the 57-year-old South African as a modern-day cricket administrator whose mantra for the game was that it should be inclusive.

''Percy who was immensely popular among the ICC's staff, was utterly committed to the game at all levels and his mantras were that the game had to be inclusive rather than exclusive and that it had to be the right way, to the true spirit of cricket,'' Speed said.

''He (Percy) was never afraid to speak his mind but his great skill, especially in meetings where discord was possible, was to do so in such a way that he got everyone together and pulling in the same direction.

Remembering him as a great administrator of the game, Ehsan Mani said, ''In all the circles in which he (Percy) moved, he commanded a huge amount of respect and that was never more obvious than when he was in an ICC Board meeting.

''Percy never spoke for the sake of it but when he did speak people listened. It is a tragedy that he was only able to fill the role of ICC President for one year,'' he added.

Mr Sonn who a former president of the South African cricket board, worked closely with the present president Ray Mali for the upliftment of his nation's cricket and was big advocate of cricket in African nations. He also represented the South African Board at the ICC during the infamous Hansie Cronje match-fixing controversies in 2000.

''"Percy was a great administrator who played a key role in the integration process the game underwent in South Africa either side of the end of Apartheid and his legacy in his homeland is of a strong sport with role models from all sections of society,'' said Ray Mali.

''I know Percy was so proud to represent South Africa and the whole continent of Africa as the ICC's first President from this part of the world and he filled the role with great dignity and strength,'' he added.

Meanwhile, captain of the World Cup-winning Australia team Ricky Ponting associates Sonn with one of the happiest moments of his career as he was the man who handed over the Cricket World Cup trophy to the Australian team.

''I will always associate Percy with one of the happiest moments of my career as he was the man who handed over the Cricket World Cup trophy to me,'' Ponting said.

''Cricket obviously owes him a huge debt of thanks.'' Mr Sonn leaves his wife Sandra and three children - a daughter and two sons - as well as his mother, six brothers and a sister.

Meanwhile, the ICC in a release has announced that it will appoint an Acting President until an election for the post is held.

UNI