CRICKET TOUR

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31865, 18 December 1968, Page 21

CRICKET TOUR

Matches In S. Africa

L (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) 1| MELBOURNE. I , The Australian Board or ; Control is negotiating for a ; short cricket tour of South ; Africa early in 1970 after the J cancellation of a trip to ’ Pakistan, a board spokesman _ said yesterday. The Pakistan tour was can- . celled last week when adminj istrative bodies in both coun- . tries failed to reach agree- , ment on a financial guarani tee. The Pakistan tour had been j planned for January and Febt ruary after the Australian side had played in India in . November, December and . early January. , The Australian board now i hopes that a short tour of t South Africa can be arl ranged as a substitute. The team would leave for Johnnesburg immediately the In- [ dian tour ended. About six . matches would be played, in- . [ eluding two unofficials tests. . Mr R. E. Parish, the chairman of the Australian board, said the board had not discussed the colour question or the board's attitude towards South Africa's political intervention in cricket. “This particular matter may be raised at the January meeting,” he added. The M.C.C. trip recently abandoned its Dians to tour South Africa after the South African Government refused •to allow the Cape-coloured batsman, B. L. D’Oliveira to tour with the England team. The president of the South African Cricket Association, Mr W. Hammond, confirmed yesterday that his board and the Australian board are considering a short tour, the London “Evening News" reported. The paper, in a report from Johannesburg, said it would be a substitute tour for the M.C.C.’s cancelled tour. If it did not materialise, then it was expected to take place next November and December, and include several more ' games.