BASSETERRE, St. Kitts -- THE cricket and media fraternities across the region are in mourning after former Cricket West Indies Manager of Marketing and Communications, Imran Khan lost his life yesterday (Sept. 28) while under observation and treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of the COVID-19 Infectious Disease Hospital in Guyana.
Khan, who was well known in many circles, had left the West Indies Cricket Board in 2014 to take a position with the Alliance For Change (AFC) political party in Guyana.
In 2015, following a coalition between the AFC and A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) that saw the two political parties winning the General Elections, Khan was appointed Head of the Department of Public Information and Director of Public Information at the Office of the President.
However, after the APNU+AFC Coalition lost the General Elections in 2020, Khan served as Communications Director in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition until his death.
In a media statement, Cricket West Indies (CWI) expressed its sincerest condolences to the wife and family of Khan, who died on yesterday morning (Sept. 28) in Guyana.
He first joined the then West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) as Media Officer for the West Indies Men’s Team and performed the role with distinction for five years. He left to pursue other interests but rejoined the organisation in 2012 in a management role.
In expressing his sympathies, CWI’s President Ricky Skerritt said: “Imran Khan is a former Senior Management Employee at Cricket West Indies. He loved cricket and he loved working with the Caribbean cricket media, who all highly regarded him and his work. I had the opportunity to work with Imran while I served as West Indies Team Manager, several years ago. I found Imran to be a skillful professional and an effective servant of West Indies cricket. He continued to be an ardent team supporter even after he left CWI to return home to his native Guyana. I’ve had the privilege of being in contact with him since; his advice and wisdom were always welcomed. On behalf of everyone at CWI, I wish to send our sincere condolences to his wife and family. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Federal Minister in St. Lucia, Ernest Hilaire also expressed sympathy to the Khan’s family on his passing, writing in part on social media, he said: “Imran would become my friend, a close friend. He was an invaluable resource to me in two election campaigns. He understood political marketing and public communication beyond belief. He listened to every presentation I made and critique with an eagle eye and discerning ear. I would often message him to lend me his ears to run an idea by him. He always had time to listen. He was humble, funny, caring and knowledgeable. I admired his capacity to read.”
Khan was known by many in the local media circle as the go to person for communication when it came to obtaining cricket information and details surrounding the West Indies teams.
