Rebel tours cost union $770,000

Press, 5 September 1983, Page 17

Rebel tours cost union $770,000

NZPA Johannesburg

The South African Cricket Union lost almost ?NZ770,000 in staging rebel tours by Sri Lanka and West Indian sides during the last year, the union president, Mr Joe Pamensky, said. Mr Pamensky said in his annual report that the Sri Lankan tour organised late last year in defiance of the widespread sports boycott of South Africa, was responsible for most of the deficit, losing ?NZ677,600. However, a subsequent visit by a West Indian team led by Lawrence Rowe proved far more popular with the fans and lost only $NZ37,000. Rowe is bringing his rebels back in November for a second tour and Mr Pamensky said he hoped the losses would then be recovered.

The South African Government, delighted that test-

class players were defying a ban in force for more than 10 years, offered to underwrite the losses, but the union spurned the money. Mr Pamensky said the union would try to obtain more money from television rights — South African television paid a mere $NZ34,265, to show cricket during last season.

But he also warned that in view of the effects on crowd figures for other competitions, the union would have to review the need for staging rebel tours. Gross takings at the prestigious Currie Cup provincial tournament fell almost 30 per cent during the season to $280,000. “It may be unrealistic to expect the public to fully support both overseas tours and domestic competitions in the same season. Yet it is essential for the domestic competitions to continue,” Mr Pamensky said.