May 28, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1428

NEW DELHI, May 27: The International Cricket Council (ICC) paid tribute to president Percy Sonn's leadership following his death in his native South Africa on Sunday.

“Percy was never afraid to speak his mind,” ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said in a statement. “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.”

Cricket South Africa (CSA) persident Ray Mali hailed Sonn's role in the racial reunification of South African cricket. Sonn headed the South African board for three years until 2003.

“Percy never saw problems, just challenges, and usually he rose to those challenges, never more so than when he helped resolve the problems that existed within the administration of Kenyan cricket in the early years of this decade,” he said.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting recalled last meeting Sonn when he handed over the World Cup trophy to his triumphant team in Barbados last month.

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

“As a cricket administrator and a man, Percy Sonn was a giant,” said Ehsan Mani, whom Sonn succeeded as ICC chief last year.

“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 a ICC board meeting.

“He was one of the most intelligent men I have ever met and cricket will be much the poorer for his passing.”

Dr Nasim Ashraf, the chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board, said that the death of Sonn was a sad day for the sport.

“Sonn's death is a great loss and the cricket world is aggrieved,” he said.

Dr Nasim said he had offered his condolences to Sonn's family via a personal telephone call.

“The whole cricket world will mourn his death in the days to come,” he said. “His contribution was great and the cricket world will always remember him.”

Indian cricket chief Sharad Pawar expressed shock over Sonn’s death.

“Percy Sonn's untimely death has come as a great shock to all of us in India,” Pawar said in a statement.

“On behalf of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and on my personal behalf I extend my condolences to Mrs Sonn and her family.”

Former ICC and Indian cricket board president Jagmohan Dalmiya said: “It is a loss not only to the world of cricket, but also for me since Percy was a dear friend and a worthy colleague.

“I knew Percy was unwell. But I thought the true fighter that he was, he would come out of the crisis. I pray to the Almighty to give courage to his family to bear the irreparable loss.”

The ICC board will choose an acting president until an election is held to find Sonn's successor.—Agencies