South African President Thabo Mbeki led the tributes to Percy Sonn, who was named as the new president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday.
Sonn takes over from Ehsan Mani.
”The ICC was the first international sports body to recognise a democratic South Africa through the membership of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB) in 1991,” said Mbeki.
”Mr Sonn played a major role in the unification of South African cricket that led to this membership and his leadership of the ICC will be another important step in his administrative career.
”The president, government and the people of South Africa congratulate advocate Percy Sonn on his appointment as president of the ICC, the first South African to hold this post,” said Mbeki.
Mani, who held the post for the past three years, was equally full of good wishes and praise for his successor.
”Percy has served as ICC vice-president for the past two years. He brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the issues in the game.
”He will have the support of a well-structured and properly resourced organisation complemented by an excellent management team.”
Congratulations also came from the Gerald Majola, CEO of the UCB, and South African captain Graeme Smith.
”The South African nation and the cricket community in particular, acknowledge with much pride the inauguration of Percy Sonn president of the ICC,” said Majola.
”It says much for the South African and international cricketing fraternity that the young boy who learnt his cricket in dusty townships during the apartheid era has now risen to head the family of world cricket.
”Sonn was a pioneer of the struggle against apartheid, as well as a pioneer of the unification of South African cricket that led to the membership of the ICC by the United Cricket Board of South Africa.
”He brings to the presidential table the South African experience of the struggle for equal opportunity, unity through reconciliation and the recognition of strength through diversity.
”Advocate Sonn also has a sharp legal mind that is essential in dealing with the sophisticated commercial issues that dominate top international sport today.
”We look forward to his energetic and holistic leadership,” added Mr Majola.
Smith said: ”We in cricket are always striving to get to the top, and it is great to see an able and committed administrator such as advocate Sonn reaching the highest office.
”We are confident that his leadership will do much towards world cricket meeting the challenges that face all of us because of his in-depth knowledge of the needs of the game at all levels.”
Sonn is the sixth man to fill the senior role at the ICC. He follows on from Lord (Colin) Cowdrey of Tonbridge (1989 to 1993), Sir Clyde Walcott (1993 to 1997), Jagmohan Dalmiya (1997 to 2000), Malcolm Gray (2000 to 2003) and Ehsan Mani (2003 to 2006).
He will serve as ICC President for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years. — Sapa