Cape Town - Renowned cricket commentator Tony Cozier has passed away at the age of 75.
Cozier, who was dubbed by many as the ‘voice of West Indies cricket', was born in July 1940 and covered almost every West Indies series since 1962.
He is the most respected cricket writer, broadcaster and historian to have come out of the Caribbean.
Damien O’Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Premier League, commented on the tournament's official website:
“It was with great sadness that we learned of Tony’s sad passing.
“To many fans across the Caribbean and beyond he was quite simply the voice of West Indies cricket. His love of cricket was a positive influence in telling the story across a golden era for West Indies cricket and he was hugely respected and loved, in equal measure, by fans of the game.
“For more than 50 years Tony’s voice has resonated through television, radio or the written word in homes across the cricketing world and he was admired internationally for his passion, insight and enthusiasm.
“Most recently Tony was kind enough to share some of his hopes and thoughts on the forthcoming CPL in a way that was typically Tony; full of insight, forthright opinion and, above all, humour. He spoke at length about his beloved Barbados, St. Kitts & Nevis and the soon to be published Jamaica. Though this series will now remain unfinished, like his legacy, they will live on and no doubt endure for all time.
“On behalf of the CPL I would like to extend my sincere condolences to his wife Jillian, children Craig and Natalie and his family and friends at this difficult time. May he rest in peace.”