ECB Mourns Passing Of Blind Cricket 'Giant' Swanepoel

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have paid tribute to blind cricketer Heindrich Swanepoel, who died suddenly today aged 43.

Swanepoel was a member of the England blind squad which won the Ashes in 2004 and 2008 and was due to travel to India to play in the upcoming Blind World T20 competition.

He first played blind cricket in 1996 and represented England more than 50 times.

Paying tribute, ECB Chief Executive David Collier said:

"This is a sad loss. Heindrich was involved at the very beginning of blind cricket becoming an international sport in England and did so much to promote cricket as a game that people with a visual impairment could be part of and aspire to play internationally. We send our condolences to his close family and to his many friends in cricket both at home and abroad."

ECB Disability Cricket Manager Ian Martin added: "Heindrich was a giant, both in physical stature and in terms of his contribution to the blind game as a player and an administrator. He was a great team-man and 100 per cent committed to the sport. It is very much thanks to Heindrich and others like him that blind cricket enjoys the profile and offers the opportunities that it does today."

© Cricket World 2012