5 biggest controversies in South African cricket

#3 Rebel Tours during Apartheid

Former England captain Graham Gooch led the team during the Rebel Tour in 1982

South Africa’s boycott by the international community at large due to its apartheid regime saw the team miss out on international cricket for more than two decades.

However, between 1982 and 1989, international cricket teams toured South Africa seven times and participated in what came to be known as Rebel Tours. These games were not recognised as internationals but the South African public got to see international cricketers play in their country and all that came to pass because of the massive monetary rewards that had been offered to the cricketers.

The entire episode is still regarded as one of the most controversial episodes in cricket history and remains a sore point in the canvas of South African cricket.

The teams to tour South Africa were England (1981-82, 1989-90), Sri Lanka (1982-82), Australia (1985-86, 1986-87) and incredibly, the West Indies (1982-83, 1983-84). Some of the leading cricketers in the world flocked to South Africa to enrich themselves.

An editorial in the British daily The Daily Mirror stated, ‘Every run they (the English team) score will be a blow to someone else’s freedom.’