THE ‘devastated’ family of West Indian cricket legend George Headley have demanded answers after a charity event in his honour was cancelled at the last minute.

Son Ron Headley, a former West Indies and Worcestershire opening batsman and now coach at Dumbleton Cricket Club, near Evesham, had been looking forward to a special function in memory of his father.

However, the event, due to be held at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Birmingham, was cancelled with just 48 hours’ notice.

Organisers Mark Dwayne Media had worked for three months to organise the black-tie event in memory of the legendary former West Indies captain.

Ron, aged 70, whose son Dean also starred for the county and England, said: “I got a call at about 8pm on the Thursday night to inform me it was being cancelled, and it was supposed to be happening on the Saturday.

“I was in shock. With only 48 hours’ notice of cancellation this is something which is just not right. This was going to be a prestigious event. Instead it has been a huge embrassment for the family, and I’m still numb now. We need answers.”

The council had already agreed to back the event in principle and had invested in advertising with Mark Dwayne Media, which claims Birmingham City Council eroded the ICC’s confidence in their ability to pay for the function.

Marcia Briscoe, from Mark Dwayne Media, said: “I think the council’s role has been appalling. We really suffered a great loss in terms of credibility, it has been a mess.”

Birmingham City Council denies it had any influence in the ICC’s decision to cancel the event. A spokesman said: “This was simply not the case. We were one of the sponsors and had booked tables and programme advertising.

“We were as disappointed as the organisers when the event had to be cancelled.”

A spokesman for the ICC said: “It is a genuine shame it had to be initially postponed. However, it was always our hope that an alternative date could be found.”

George Headley died in 1983, aged 74, and last month was posthumously inducted into the International Cricket Council’s Cricket Hall of Fame.