2015 World Cup organizing committee chairman dies

MELBOURNE, Australia – James Strong, chairman of the local organizing committee for the 2015 Cricket World Cup, has died after complications following surgery. He was 68.

Strong died on Sunday in Sydney, his family said in a statement.

John Harnden, chief executive of the 2015 World Cup organizing committee, released a statement Monday saying, “We will continue the work he began on the World Cup and deliver a tournament in 2015 that would make him proud.”

Strong was head of Australian airline Qantas from 1993-2001. He was also chairman of Australian auto racing series V8 Supercars.

Formula One driver Mark Webber paid tribute with a tweet on Monday, saying Strong had been “very special towards my junior racing career. Great guy. Will be missed.”