Cricket West Indies pays tribute to Tony Becca

Cricket West Indies president Dave Cameron has paid tribute to noted cricket journalist Tony Becca, who died on Thursday morning, at age 78.

According to information, the former sports editor at The Gleaner Company died at the Andrews Memorial Hospital. He was being treated for dengue and reportedly developed complications.

Cameron said Becca was a fair journalist.

“Tony Becca has always made an effort to be fair in his writings about West Indies Cricket," Cameron said.

"For over four decades he helped this region understand the game through his eyes. His body of work is one which will be difficult to replicate. Cricket West Indies along with other groups across the Caribbean region and in the USA Diaspora have paid tribute to him because of his work. We would like to express condolences to his family, friends the cricket fraternity. May his soul rest in peace,” Cameron further added.

Becca travelled far and wide with the West Indies all-conquering team and his knowledge of the game was unequalled among local sports journalists. He continued writing for The Gleaner long after he retired, and up until the time of his death, his weekly columns were a must read for cricket enthusiasts.

In October, 2005, Becca was one of the Caribbean’s top sports writers to be inducted into the Cricket Hall of Fame in Hartford, Connecticut for his outstanding contribution to the development of the sport in the United States.

Becca began cricket reporting in l974 and, in 2005, was one of three West Indians who had reported on more than 150 test matches around the world.

The veteran journalist received numerous awards for his professional excellence and service to the sport. He had a longstanding relationship with the Melbourne Cricket Club and at one time served as President of the Sports Journalist Association of Jamaica and Director of the Sports Writers’ Association of the Americas.