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

His career in the game’s administration began while he was still a teenager in South Africa, in the midst of the Apartheid regime. He helped with the organization of his club side, Bellville South, and it marked the start of a lifetime’s work for the betterment of the game at local, national and international level.

Sonn emerged as a leading administrator when he served as Vice-President to Hassan Howa at the Western Province Cricket Board, for nine years from 1974, taking over the role of President of the Board from 1990 to 1992. He then became President of the newly-formed Western Province Cricket Association in 1993.

Sonn served as a Vice President of the South African Cricket Board before the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) was formed, played a crucial role in the unity process in 1991, and served as a Management Committee Member of the UCBSA (now CSA) from its inauguration until 2003. He also served as President of the UCBSA for three years until 2003.

Percy Sonn became the sixth person to fill the senior role at the ICC and followed on from Lord (Colin) Cowdrey of Tonbridge (1989 – 93), Sir Clyde Walcott (1993 – 97), Jagmohan Dalmiya (1997 – 2000), Malcolm Gray (2000 – 2003) and Ehsan Mani (2003 – 2006).

His appointment as ICC President followed two years as the organisation’s Vice-President, a post to which he was appointed on 1 July 2004.

Away from cricket, Sonn experienced a hugely varied life and a fascinating professional career.

He was a Senior Counsel and his input was invaluable in all legal matters affecting the UCBSA. That background helped make him a respected member of the ICC and he represented the UCBSA at the ICC during the match-fixing controversies in 2000.

Sonn was educated at Belgravia Senior Secondary school and the University of the Western Cape and obtained his Law degree in 1972.

He worked as an Attorney and an Advocate, served as Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions and a legal advisor to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Sonn also formed and then headed the Directorate of Special Operations in South Africa, the organization known as the Scorpions, which went after the perpetrators of serious economic offences, organized crime and drug trafficking.

Sonn’s playing career as an off-spinner and lower-order batsman spanned over 15 years, starting in 1964 at Belgravia High School in Athlone, Cape Town. He represented the Maitland and Parow Cricket Union as player and administrator until he went into legal partnership with Dullah Omar.

Sonn leaves his wife Sandra and three children – a daughter and two sons – as well as his mother, six brothers (two of them older than him and four younger) and a sister.

Details of Sonn’s funeral will also be made public as appropriate.

The process for choosing a new President of the ICC is that under the organisation’s Articles the ICC Board will appoint an Acting President until an election can be held.

Details of the form any election may take will be announced in due course.