Gooch faces ban

Press, 15 August 1988, Page 21

Gooch faces ban

NZPA-AFP London Graham Gooch could be barred from India if he leads England’s winter tour there, because he has played cricket in South Africa.

Press reports said the Indian Government would be asked to refuse a visa for Gooch, who captained an England rebel tour to the Republic in 1982, by the South African NonRacial Olympic Committee (5.A.N.R.0.C.). An announcement is expected next week on whether Gooch, who led

England in the fifth test against the West Indies last week, will fill the position.

Gooch is believed to be considering an offer to play Currie Cup cricket with Western Province in South African during the northern winter.

A S.A.N.R.O.C. spokesman said the committee would raise the matter with the Indian Government "not only about Gooch, but anyone else who has been to South Africa ” ' “We will ask them to ban those players who are

on our list. Bangladesh and Zimbabwe did it with the England B team. We hope India will follow.” © England’s cricket officials have been given four months to pinpoint the problems within the game following the 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the West Indies in the recent five-test series. An inquest, officially launched by the Test and County Cricket Board (T.C.C.8.) will look at the reasons which have caused England to incur a record-breaking 18 test defeats.