South Africa’s first captain of the post-isolation era Clive Rice died after battling a brain tumour, as reported by the country’s cricket board. The 66 year old had appeared to be in remission after visiting India earlier this year to receive robotic radiation treatment in Bangalore.
Rice’s family confirmed his death, saying he was admitted to hospital on Sunday with severe stomach pains. The all-rounder captained South Africa at the age of 42 on their historic post-isolation limited overs tour of India in 1991, but was left out of the squad for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand the next year. He also briefly represented Scotland before the Proteas’ readmission to international cricket.
“Clive was our first captain and we knew him to be a great fighter all his life,” Cricket South Africa CEO Haroon Lorgat said in a media release. “Even during his last few years he put up a typically courageous and inspirational fight against the illness that had threatened him for a lengthy period of time.”
International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson paid tribute to the Rice. He said in a statement, “Clive Rice was a giant of the game, not just in South Africa, but across the cricketing world. Though his international appearances for the Proteas were limited to just three ODIs, Clive was a hugely inspirational figure for those of us who had the privilege to represent our country.”
“Clive was hugely regarded across the world game as a player, but later as a coach and mentor where he inspired the likes of Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock and Jonty Rhodes, and he will be greatly missed by those who knew him,” he added.
