The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, is among the many international dignitaries inside and outside the cricketing world to pay tribute to Sir Donald Bradman, who died on Sunday at the age of 92.

Annan, who was born in Ghana, was an avid cricket player in his youth and lent his support to ICC's Cricket Week last year.

In a two-paragraph statement, issued on Monday, New York time, Annan said:

"I was deeply grieved to learn of the death of Sir Donald Bradman. One of the greatest sportsmen the world has ever known, Sir Donald matched his extraordinary record of accomplishment on the field with grace and honour off it. He stood for the values of fair play and international cooperation that are at the heart of the United Nations.

"I join cricket lovers around the world in expressing my sincere condolences to his family, the Government and people of Australia, and the game of cricket, which have all suffered an irreparable loss."

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd