Cricket keeping ties with South Africa

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33035, 30 September 1972, Page 18

Cricket keeping ties with South Africa

New Zealand should maintain its cricketing relations with South Africa, said the president, Mr K. L. Sandford, at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Cricket Council last evening.

“We have been asked several times recently what is New Zealand’s policy about playing South Africa,” said Mr Sandford.

“The policy was set down many years ago, that we would maintain contact with our traditional cricketing friends. “For several years the South Africa Cricket Association, the body we have ties with, has made unilateral efforts to establish multiracial cricket in South Africa. These have continued after rebuttals at an early stage. OTHER’S WRONGS “They are continuing at this moment,” said Mr Sandford, “showing their good will and good intent.

“Perhaps these men suffer

from .the wrong judgments of other people.” After remarking that they were his personal views, Mr Sandford said: “In all humility, I would use the words of Our Lord Himself, who said He would mix with sinners, not shun them.” : Earlier, Mr Sandford paid Tribute to the efforts of the New Zealand team which I toured the West Indies earlier I this year. CALIBRE OF TEAM “It might not be unfair to suggest that when the New Zealanders left, we thought they might not be of the calibre of the West Indians. ■ “By the end of the tour,” said Mr Sandford, “the New Zealanders had established themselves in the eyes of the cricketing world at a state of parity with the West Indians. “They did this by a display of endurance, persistence and a refusal to accept setbacks, in a way a New Zealand touring team has never done.

“As they battled on we could see the gutsiness in their play. I would warmly support the claim that this was a most successful tour.” FUTURE TOURS

Mr Sandford said that New Zealand faced an exciting future, with the tour by Pakistan next summer, the tour to England later next year, the twin tours with Australia in 1973-74, and the possibility of the establish-

ing of a World Cup competition. He was pleased about the advances made by the new junior advisory board, but both he and Mr J. G. Leggat. the chairman of the N.Z.C.C. board of control, were critical of some associations which had not showed a willingness to organise schoolboys tournaments. Mr Sandford also paid tribute to the New Zealand women’s cricket team which had won test series in Australia and South Africa last summer. N.Z.C.C. associations should encourage the women’s cricket organisations in their areas, said Mr Sandford, for it might bring good to both sections of the game.