The test-playing fraternity has risen again to 7. But it is not the same seven who played more or less harmoniously together until South Africa’s automatic expulsion from the Imperial Cricket Conference after the new Republic had left the Commonwealth in 1961.
At the annual cricket meeting at Lord’s of the International Cricket Conference, Sri Lanka was admitted as a full member and Kenya (formerly part of East Africa) and Zimbabwe as Associate Members. No vote was taken on South Africa, who had not been proposed and seconded, but the delegates, who had already read a written sub-mission arguing South Africa’s case for readmission, listened sympathetically to an explanation of further developments since the document was compiled. These were delivered by five South Africans, led by Rashid Verachia, the Indian-born President of the South African Cricket Union.
To the solid evidence of cricket played and teams organized on a truly multi-racial basis, the South African emissaries were able to add a letter from Prime Minister P. W. Botha, which promised imminent legislation ‘to exclude sporting events from the application of three laws considered to infringe the autonomy of sporting bodies to organize multi-racial sport’.
The question for the officials of South African cricket now, therefore, one that will be debated at the SACU meeting this month, is whether to remain indefinitely patient or whether to force the issue by inviting a team. They will be aware, on the one hand, of the cynicism, but was it realistic?—a recent statement by an English cricket executive that “only when there is a black administration in South Africa will there be any hope of South Africa playing Test cricket.”
They know also that the immense wealth in South Africa would increase the likelihood of success for any attempt to buy the services of outstanding cricketers for an international series in South Africa in their coming season. Unofficial plans for a six-week tour in the autumn are already advanced, with a fantastic sum of £60,000 on offer, it is reported, to the likes of Geoff Boycott and Bob Willis. On the other hand, they will be known as those connected with World Series Cricket. They knew that nothing can equal Test cricket, the genuine patriotic article, and that the majority of the younger generation is leading world cricket.
Read More: Sri Lanka Press for Senior Ranking and Claims for full Test Status in 1979
