ICC pays tribute to Oswald Van Moer

International Cricket Council (ICC) President Ehsan Mani today led the tributes from the game's governing body for Mr Oswald Van Moer, the President of the Belgian Cricket Federation (BCF), who died last week.

Mr Van Moer was a driving force in Belgian cricket for three decades and was a key figure in it being elevated from Affiliate to Associate status within the ICC earlier this year.

Mr Mani said: "I heard of this news with great sadness and would like to take this opportunity to pass on my sincere condolences to Oswald's family and friends.

"Oswald was an outstanding servant of Belgian cricket and his dedication has allowed the game to make great strides forward in that country.

"It is the selfless dedication of people like Oswald that helps cricket to grow throughout the world and we should all be grateful for the contribution he has made to Belgian cricket."

His Royal Highness Tunku Imran, the President of the Malaysian Cricket Association and Associates' Chairman of the ICC said: "This news comes as a shock. Oswald was one of the real hard workers who made Belgium's elevation to Associate status possible.

"It is so sad that Belgian cricket has lost a great leader and I send my deepest condolences to his family and everyone at the Belgian Cricket Federation."

The ICC's Global Development Manager Matthew Kennedy said: "I am so very sorry to hear of this sad news.

"It is meeting and sharing experiences with people like "Ossie" that makes being involved in cricket development so great.

"ICC's thoughts and condolences go out to all family and friends and all those involved in the Belgium cricket community to whom "Ossie" clearly meant so much, and brought so much enjoyment."

Highly regarded as a larger than life character by all who knew him, Mr Van Moer was one of the first Belgians to qualify as a Level One coach. He was also a tireless worker for Mechelen Cricket Club as well as the BCF even before his elevation to the Presidency.

The BCF has set up a book of condolence at its website https://www.cricketeurope.net/BELGIUM/index.shtml