Background on ICC President Percy Sonn

Born on 25 September 1949, Percival Henry Frederick Sonn, universally known as Percy, becomes the sixth person to fill the senior role at the ICC.

He follows 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 follows two years as the organisation's Vice-President, a post to which he was appointed on 1 July 2004.

It is the latest stop on a remarkable journey for the 56 year-old, the first African to become the head of world cricket's administration.

Sonn's career in cricket administration began while he was still a teenager, in a South Africa in the midst of the Apartheid regime.

He helped with the organization of his club side, Bellville - where he is still a member - because of his ability to read and write, and he has been working for the betterment of the game at local, national and international level ever since.

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 UCBSA was formed, he played a crucial role in the unity process in 1991, and served as a Management Committee Member of the UCBSA from its inauguration until 2003.

He also served as President of the UCBSA for three years until 2003.

Sonn is a Senior Counsel and his input has been invaluable in all legal matters affecting the UCBSA. This background has also made him a respected member of the ICC. He represented the UCBSA at the ICC during the match-fixing controversies in 2000.

Away from cricket he has had a fascinating professional career. Sonn was educated at Belgravia Senior Secondary school and the University of the Western Cape and obtained his Law degree in 1972.

He has 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 is currently the Chief Executive Officer of a forensic investigation company.

Sonn's playing career as an off-spinner and lower-order batsman spanned over 25 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.

He has six brothers (two of them older than him and four younger) as well as a sister (older than him), is married and has three children - a daughter and two sons.