S. Africans Ban Team With Coloured Players

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32210, 31 January 1970, Page 12

S. Africans Ban Team With Coloured Players

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON. South Africa was accused yesterday of secretly ruling out a visit by a top international cricket team because it would have included coloured players.

A 8.8. C. television sports programme said the ban was imposed because the Cavaliers, an international cricket side, would have included G. S. Sobers, captain of the West Indies, and the Nawab of Pataudi, India’s skipper. The accusation came a day after the Republic banned the American Negro tennis player, A. R. Ashe, from competing in the South African open championships. And it coincided with an announcement from the M.C.C., after a meeting with the British Home Secretary (Mr James Callaghan), that the tour of Britain by the South African cricket team later this year would go on. “Blatant Discrimination” The refusal to accept the Cavaliers team was condemned by the 8.8. C. sports commentator, David Coleman, as “the most blatant piece of racial discrimination yet to emerge from South Africa.” Coleman, compere of the “Sportsnight” programme, said that because he was a member of the Cavaliers, he could reveal the ban on their team, which had been kept secret

He said the Cavaliers had received a letter from the South Africa Cricket Association, saying: “You must fully appreciate that any tour by the Cavaliers as suggested and including non-white personnel would not be allowed.” Coleman said the Cavaliers, whose team is at present touring the Caribbean, had re-

ceived a private approach Id November from South Africa asking whether the club would be interested in touring the Republic in 1971. The Cavaliers, formed seven years ago to raise money for charity, had replied by stressing they were a multi-racial organisation. “No doubt we would be hoping to include Gary Sobers, the Nawab of Pataudi, and some other leading West Indian and Pakistani players," they told South Africa. Coleman said that on January 15 the Cavaliers had received the final ruling, given by Mr S. H. Martin, secretary of the South African Cricket Association, and that he had checked with Mr Martin to confirm the ban. The letter to the Cavaliers said: “This association would not support this tour. In view of the composition of the side you wish to visit, none of our affiliated unions would be allowed to accept official responsibility. Indirect Means “It is felt that you would be wise in view of all the information at your disposal not to pursue this matter ther.”Coleman told viewers that the letter was not intended for general circulation and that he had received it by indirect means. “This shows that the association holds out no hope whatsoever for multi-racial cricket,” and said the association was guilty of double-talk. The letter was in direct contrast to promises made by Mr J. Cheetbam, the Association’s president, that South Africa wanted in future to choose players on merit, he said. Cost of Protection Announcing the decision on this year’s South African tour, Mr Maurice Allom, president of the M.C.C. and chairman of the English Cricket Council, said: “We had preliminary discussions with the Home Secretary about the arrangements for the tour. We asked certain questions and are going to be in touch with him again at a future date.” He said that the cost of protecting cricket grounds from demonstrations were among the items discussed but there had been no request to the Government for money to pay for the protection of grounds. Mr Denis Howell, the Minister with responsibility for sport, also attended the meeting. The M.C.C. assistant secretary, Mr J. Bailey, asked about

the outcome of the meeting, said: “The tour is no less likely now than It was two days ago.”

The discussions will be reported to the full meeting of the cricket council at Lord’s on February 12, when arrangements for the tour are likely to be completed and a revised fixture list issued if it is thought that It is unwise to play matches on grounds particularly open to demonstrations. Mr Allom, asked if .the South African Government's ban on Ashe would make any. difference to the tour pros-, pects, said: “It was not discussed.”