WEST Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Julian Hunte has described the death of umpire Clyde Duncan as an “immense loss” to the regional cricket fraternity.
Duncan died yesterday in Trinidad and Tobago where he was undergoing treatment for cancer. He was 57.
“It is with immense sadness that the Board has learnt of the passing of Clyde. We extend deepest condolences to his wife Fay and their four children, ” Hunte said.
“Clyde served West Indies cricket faithfully for over two decades and was always humble in his service.
“He was a consummate gentleman, always kind and pleasant and he will be missed in the cricketing fraternity. The West Indian cricket family is poorer with this immense loss.”
Duncan’s international career spanned 22 years after he made his debut in an ODI between West Indies and Pakistan in his homeland Guyana in 1988.
Duncan also served as cricket operations manager in Guyana for the 2007 Cricket World Cup and last year’s World Twenty20 Championship in the Caribbean.
Meanwhile, Guyana Cricket Board president Chetram Singh hailed Duncan’s contribution to the game.
“He has contributed so much to umpiring in the West Indies, the world and Guyana and he was always willing to impart his knowledge to the youngsters,” Singh told Demerara Waves Online News.
Duncan made his international debut in 1988 in an ODI between West Indies and Pakistan in Georgetown and officiated his first Test three years later in the second Test of the five-match series between West Indies and Australia also in Georgetown.
His second and last Test also came before his home crowd when England toured the Caribbean in 1994.
Duncan last stood in an international during South Africa’s tour of the region last year when he officiated in the second ODI.
Duncan is survived by his wife Fay and children Dr Tracey Duncan-Clarke, Joanna, Troy and Susanna.