Cricket chairman clarifies position

Press, 26 July 1980, Page 56

Cricket chairman clarifies position

By

R. T. Brittenden

There is no prospect “in the foreseeable future” of New Zealand playing test cricket against South Africa, said Mr R. A. Vance, chairman of the New Zealand Cricket Council’s Board of Control, yesterday.

He put forward a clarification of the board’s attitude to South African cricket, and its future, in a statement based on an interview in “The Press” on July 24 with Mr W. A. Hadlee, a member of the board. With Mr Vance, Mr Hadlee will represent New Zealand at the August meeting of the International Cricket Conference.

“In the light of the headline above an interview with Mr Hadlee, and the implications which could be taken from it, I feel obliged to state clearly the

present stance taken by my board on the whole question of South African cricket” said Mr Vance.

“My board will support the admission of South Africa to the 1.C.C.” he said “We will not play cricket against South Africa in the foreseeable future, for many reasons, not the least of which is our government’s support of, and in fact the very existence of, the Gleneagles Agreement. “It then might be asked, why, in the light of the latter statement, would we support the admission of South Africa, which could, and will be taken by some, to indicate a willingness to play cricket.

“The I.C.C. is in fact a forum of cricket-playing countries of test-match standard, and of associate members of a lesser standard. There is no doubt that cricket in South Africa is of a standard

which would qualify it for full membership. We believe South Africa would benefit from, and contribute to, discussion at this conference,” said Mr Vance. “We also believe that South African cricket is making a real effort towards integration in its sport, and any effort in this regard should be recognised and encouraged.

“We believe that supporting South Africa towards membership is giving a public endorsement to the efforts being made towards full integration of cricket. “To summarise: The New Zealad Board of .Control unanimously states that (1) It believes South Africa should have membership of the I.C.C. and (2) New Zealand will not play cricket against’South Africa in the foreseeable future,” Mr Vance said.