S.A. and cricket
Sir, —- Mr A. J. Campbell’s allegation (July 18) that the South African Cricket Union was found to be a sham is absurd. S.A.C.U. has achieved real progress, with multi-racial cricket from club level upward, and selection on merit. This means cricketers, irrespective of colour, are guaranteed selection on ability. I deplored the system which prevented Basil D’Oliveira from playing for his country. That could not happen under the S.A.C.U. Those who have done this deserve credit. The so-called “non-racial” South African Cricket Board was formed only after S.A.C.U. was democratically constituted. One of its objects is to thwart S.A.C.U. progress. It is affiliated to the South African '.Council of Sport : (5.A.C.0.5.) a non-white body which, sadly, penalises non-white schoolboys for associating .with white cricketers, even in coaching. They do not. want sporting integration. Significantly, Mr Hassan Howa was president of both S.A.C.B. and S.A.C.O.S: He admitted to me that the S.A.C.B. exists Tor political ends. — Yours, etc • ‘ W. A. HADLEE. July 21, 1980. Sir, —- S. C. Guillen’s hope (July 19) of Indian, Pa-
kistani, and West Indian cricketers ’ visiting South Africa to weaken sports ' apartheid is well meant.
However, non-racial sports associations there have found that any international sports contact comforts the apartheid establishment. They have, therefore, imposed a ban until sports apartheid is abolished. Two (table tennis and darts), affiliated to their world federations, have declined participation in world championships for this reason. Competing in international sport is not a short-term priority for the non-racial sports people; the abolition of sports apartheid , is. Indeed, in its memorandum last year to the International Cricket Conference the non-racial South African Cricket Board accused the white-dominated South African Cricket Union on this point: “They have been motivated not by a sincere desire to organise cricket on a non-racial basis, but by the desire to return to international cricket.” One can conclude from recent utterances that a similar motivation governs New Zealand cricket. — Yours, etc A. J. CAMPBELL. July 19, 1980.
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Press, 22 July 1980, Page 16
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331S.A. and cricket Press, 22 July 1980, Page 16
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