Former New Zealand cricket captain Martin Crowe has been diagnosed with lymphoma, a form of cancer that affects the immune system.
Mr Crowe's manager, Louise Henderson, said on Monday that the family is still in shock following the diagnosis this week and has requested privacy at this time.
She says the diagnosis is very new and the family is dealing with the understanding that life as they know it will be different from now on.
Martin Crowe played cricket for New Zealand from the early 1980s through to his retirement from first-class cricket in 1996.
He is married to New Zealander Lorraine Downes, a former Miss Universe.