ICC President pays tribute to Kerry Packer

International Cricket Council (ICC) President Ehsan Mani today paid tribute to Mr Kerry Packer, the Australian media tycoon, who passed away on Monday at the age of 68.

"It was with both shock and great sadness that I learnt the news of Kerry Packer's passing," said Mr Mani. "I would like, first of all, to take this opportunity to offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends.

"Very few people in the whole history of the game, either players or administrators, can be said to have changed the game but Kerry Packer can rightly be considered someone who did just that.

"His World Series Cricket took the game by the scruff of the neck and dragged it into the modern era and although, at the time, many people had reservations, the current healthy state of our sport shows how wise he was.

"Day-night cricket, white balls and black sightscreens, coloured clothing and cutting edge television coverage are all aspects of the game that modern cricket fans take for granted and all of them are down to one man - Kerry Packer.

"The players also owe him a huge debt of gratitude because he recognised their worth and paid them accordingly. Before Kerry Packer's arrival players were not paid that much.

"He recognised they were the entertainers and had to be rewarded, he helped make cricket an attractive career option for youngsters and that was one of his great achievements.

"Mr Packer was an outstanding businessman but on the occasions I met him it was also clear to me that he possessed a great knowledge, understanding and love of the game.

"He always watched cricket with a view to taking the sport forward, he was always full of ideas and suggestions, and his is an incredible legacy to the game," added Mr Mani.

Mr Packer's so-called cricket revolution began in 1977 when, having failed to secure the rights to broadcast international matches played in Australia for his station, Channel Nine, he signed up many of the world's best players to take part in rival, unofficial matches.

His World Series Cricket ran for two seasons, 1977/78 and 1978/79, and included matches in the Caribbean, before he reached an agreement with the Australian Cricket Board (now Cricket Australia) in 1979 to secure broadcast rights.

Channel Nine has televised cricket in Australia ever since that date.