Rebel issue unlikely to be investigated

Press, 1 July 1985, Page 22

Rebel issue unlikely to be investigated

PA Wellington The New Zealand Cricket Council is unlikely to investigate the action of a group of New Zealand cricketers who have approached South African cricket authorities for a "rebel” tour of that country. The N.Z.C.C. chairman, Bob Vance, said yesterday the South African Cricket Unions’ rejection of the approach by the unnamed current and former cricketers effectively killed off the issue. “I’m sure the matter will be raised when the council meets (on July 6) but I doubt if it calls for action.

“All cricketers have been advised twice, once just recently, of our policy that participation in any ‘rebel’ tour would jeopardise their availability to play for New Zealand,’’ he said. Mr Vance said a “rebel” tour would inevitably lead to players being banned from the

test arena.

“We would have to do something like England did. A three-year ban would be the minimum acceptable to international countries,"he said. Mr Vance said he was unaware of the approach to South Africa and added he had no plans to take the issue up with Dr Ali Bacher, the special consultant to the South African Cricket Union. It was Dr Bacher who revealed the offer by the New Zealand players and who said the approach had been turned down.

He refused to give reasons for the rejection by the union which will host an Australian “rebel” tour later this year. However, S.A.C.U. apparently does not want to sour relations with the New Zealand council which in the past has argued for South Africa’s re-admittance to the International Cricket Conference, the sport’s governing body.