Percy Sonn dies, but 'always remembered'

Percival "Percy" Henry Frederick Sonn, president of the International Cricket Council and former president of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, the Western Province Cricket Association and Western Province Cricket Board, died at a Durbanville clinic Sunday morning after a short illness. He was 57 years old.

Ray Mali, president of Cricket South Africa, said: "This is a terrible shock and a devastating piece of news as I have lost a close friend.

"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.

"Percy was a great administrator who played a key role in the integration process the game underwent in South Africa ... Percy never saw problems, just challenges, and he rose to those challenges."

Gerald Majola, CEO of Cricket South Africa, said: "He was one of the pioneers of non-racial cricket in South Africa, and was an administrator at the highest levels for more than four decades.

"It was a great tribute for South African and world cricket that he was able to rise from playing as a youngster in the dusty streets of the townships to the highest office in world cricket.

"Sonn fought apartheid as both a cricketer and a civil rights lawyer with vigour and great courage. He was equally energetic and effective in bringing about cricket unity in South Africa ...

"He brought to the ICC, as both vice-president and president, the whole South African cricket experience, which has become a vital element in the globalisation of the game. He played a major role in assisting emerging cricket nations ...

"On a personal level, he was my mentor as CEO of Cricket South Africa and I will miss him greatly, as will all cricket structures in South African and world cricket."

Mohamed Ebrahim, president of Western Province Cricket Association, said: "Sonn will be mourned throughout the cricketing world, but in particular in his home town of Cape Town where he was a larger-than-life figure.

"He was involved in the administration of Western Province cricket for 40 years and his influence and legacy was huge ... He has made a major contribution to South African society."

Andre Odendaal, CEO of Western Province Cricket Association, said: "Sonn was rooted in the struggles for non-racial sport and democracy in South Africa and was one of the main architects of cricket unity ...

"He was proud of his roots on the wrong side of the line and never forgot where he came from - and his down-to-earth, streetwise personality and sense of humour attested to this ... His passing is a shock to all his friends and fellow cricketers in the province, and our hearts and sympathy go out to Sandra and his family."

Ali Bacher, former CEO of the UCBSA, said: "It is another very sad day for South African and world cricket ...

"I will always remember Percy for the courage he showed at the time when the unity discussions took place ...

"As an administrator he understood that in professional sport, you could not have a hands-on president and a hands-on CEO and once, as president, he had overseen the formulation of policy, he was happy to let the management carry out the implementation.

"As president of the ICC he achieved the highest office the game has to offer and South Africa can be extremely proud of him."

Ehsan Mani of Pakistan, who preceded Sonn as ICC president, said: "As a cricket administrator and a man, Percy Sonn was a giant.

In all the circles in which he 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. He was one of the most intelligent men I have ever met and cricket will be much the poorer for his passing."

Malcolm Speed, ICC chief executive, said: "Percy was never afraid to speak his mind but his great skill, especially in meetings where discord was possible, was to do so in a way that he got everyone together and pulling in the same direction.

"Percy 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 played the right way, to be true to the spirit of cricket."

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said: "I am ... saddened to hear this news and first and foremost my thoughts are with Percy's family and friends ...

"I have been told of his lifetime of service to the game in what, for many years, must have been difficult circumstances in South Africa. Cricket obviously owes him a huge debt of thanks."

Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board said: "Sonn's death is a great loss and the cricket world is aggrieved. The whole cricket world will mourn his death in the days to come. His contribution was great and the cricket world will remember him."

Sharad Pawar, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said: "Sonn's untimely death has come as a great shock to all of us in India. On behalf of BCCI ... I extend my condolences to Mrs Sonn and her family."