Bid to head off cricket crisis

Press, 12 June 1987, Page 32

Bid to head off cricket crisis

NZPA London The English Test and County Cricket Board (T.C.C.8.) is to hold a crucial meeting tomorrow in an attempt to head off a crisis over South Africa.; ; The threat facing it is a black-white split in world cricket,, or the unthinkable prospect of a players’ strike in - England.

Raman Subba Row,/ chairman of the T.C.C.8., said yesterday: “It is very worrying that the whole ?. future of ' the game could be in jeopardy.” ' The meeting will consider how to tackle a West Indian resolution which, if passed, would outlaw from inter- ' national cricket anyone . who plays or coaches in future in the racially-

divided republic. The motion is due to be debated by the International Cricket Conference (1.C.C.) in London later this month but English and Australian officials have made it clear they would prefer to leave the matter until after the World Cup, due to be held in India and Pakistan in October and November. “We see no point in the

I.C.C. staging the meeting now,” Mr Subba Row said. Under LC.C. rules the motion would, require the support of either England or Australia, as* founder members, to by - passed, but a /straight majority vote could have it accepted as general matter of policy by the member states. Such a decision would hit many English county

players with on average more than 79 of them playing and coaching in. South Africa each English winter. Jack Bannister, secretary of the Cricketers -Association »■ — .;> the players’: union / has said in the past that any action against cricketers would be viewed as restraint of trade and'could lead to court action and possibly a players’ strike.