MELBOURNE, Australia (AP):

JAMES STRONG, chairman of the local organising committee for the 2015 Cricket World Cup, has died after complications following surgery. He was 68.

Strong died on Sunday in Sydney,  his f amil y said i n a statement.

John Harnden, chief executive of the 2015 World Cup organising committee, released a statement yesterday 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 yesterday, saying Strong had been “very special towards my junior racing career. Great guy. Will be missed.”