Bitter cricket wrangle

Press, 18 February 1983, Page 34

Bitter cricket wrangle

XZPA London The powerful Marylebone Cricket Club (M.C.C.) executive has set the stage for a bitter internal wrangle over proposals for the club to renew relations with South Africa. The executive is believed to have overwhelmingly rejected a call from a Conservative Parts parliamentarian. John Carlisle, an M.C.C. member, to send an official team to South Africa. Mr Carlisle said yesterday that he was prepared for rejection by the executive—which is expected to announce the decision today—and will force a postal ballot of the club’s 18,000 members on the issue. The M.P. has the necessary 1800 signatories to call for a ballot: “I believe the 18,000 members should be able to express an opinion,” Mr Carlisle said. The internal lobbying in such a ballot is expected to be intense. At stake is the future of international cricket—including the Ashes. Also on the line will be the executives' jobs, namely those of the president, Sir Anthony Tuke. and the secretary. Jack Bailey. A vote to go to South Africa is tantamount to a noconfidence vote. Sir Anthony is also the chairman of cricket’s world governing body, the International Cricket Conference, and Mr Bailey is also the I.C.C. secretary. It would require a twothirds majority to overturn the executive’s decision. According to international cricket observers, this is not impossible considering the shift in opinion in Britain , after last year’s three-year . test ban on Graham Gooch’s rebels. ( Mr Bailey, who was un- - available for comment yes- ' terday, said recently that ' there was “absolutely no possibility” of the M.C.C. executive backing Mr Carlisle’s plan. "The committee members who met Mr Carlisle were firmly of the opinion that his scheme would be against the best interests of the club, the game in England and world cricket,” Mr Bailey said.