S.A. link players: Decision defended

Press, 16 January 1986, Page 23

S.A. link players: Decision defended

NZPA-ReuterAPort of Spain The West Indies cricket authority has defended its decision to let five players with South African links take part in England’s tour of the West Indies starting next week. In a statement yesterday the West Indies Cricket Board of Control (W.1.C.8.C.) said the International Cricket Conference (1.C.C.) had already taken strong action to isolate South Africa and unilateral action by the W.1.C.8.C. would not

help. . The five players who played in South Africa had already served three-year suspensions from international cricket under the Gleneagles agreement against apartheid in sport, it said. In the West Indies, cricketers who play in South Africa are banned for life. Critics of the inclusion of the five English players say the ban should also apply to them. The Trinidad-based Com-

mittee in Defence of West Indian Cricket (C.1.D.W.1.C.), grouping three influential trade unions, has sought a boycott of all matches on the island, and threatened to make the tourists’ stay as uncomfortable as possible. The English team is due to arrive on January 26 for an 11-week tour including five tests, four one-day internationals and five firstclass matches. Two of the tests are due to be played in Trinidad.