Sonn in intensive care

ICC President Percy Sonn is critically ill in intensive care in Durbanville clinic, Cape Town, his personal assistant George Hector revealed today. Sonn had undergone a minor colon operation, which had been scheduled since before the recent World Cup, on Monday.

Hector told Cricinfo that Sonn had suffered complications. “His condition is still unchanged. He is stable and his family is at his bedside. There is no change since yesterday [Tuesday].”

ICC Spokesperson Brian Murgatroyd told the same website: “This news is extremely upsetting for everyone who knows Percy. Everyone was with him at the World Cup, where he was his usual jolly self, and so to hear this less than a month later is very troubling.”

“Percy has given virtually his whole life to cricket,” Murgatroyd added. “He started out in administration at his local club in Belville [in Cape Town] because he was virtually the only person at the club who could read and write. He played a major part in the integration of the South African game after apartheid, and was president of the UCB throughout a tumultuous decade. All our thoughts are with his family and wife Sandra at this difficult time.”

Sonn, 57, took over the ICC Presidency from Ehsan Mani in June 2006. He had previously served as UCBSA President.