By: Sonia Hendricks

Former South African cricket team captain, Clive Rice died yesterday at a Cape Town hospital.

The 66-year-old had been suffering from a brain tumour since the age of 49.

According to NEWS24, Rice visited India earlier this year to receive robotic radiation treatment for a cancer-related brain tumor at Bangalore’s Health Care Global Hospital.

It is reported that his treatment was going seemingly well, but Rice lost his battle on Tuesday morning.

Rice was the captain of the Transvaal “mean machine” team which won the Currie Cup three times. He also played for Natal and Nottinghamshire.

According to ESPNcricinfo.Com, Cricket SA chief executive Haroon Lorgat paid tribute to Rice, saying he had put up a “typically courageous and inspirational fight” against the illness.

“Clive was our first captain and we knew him to be a great fighter all his life,” said Lorgat.

Clive will always be remembered for captaining the Proteas on the historic first tour to India in 1991 and, as one of the great all-rounders and captains of the game.

“It was fitting that he got the chance to play international cricket even though he was at an age when most players might have called time on their careers,” he added.

According to Edward George and Sam Isaacs fans of the game, the country has lost a legend, a true sportsman that took SA cricket to the world.