South Africa-born former England all-rounder Basil d'Oliveira has died at the age of 80, Cricket South Africa have confirmed.
D'Oliveira made headlines in 1968 when he was included in the England squad for the tour of South Africa which had to be called off as the South African government refused to accept his presence.
He was a wonderful cricketer (who could have achieved even more if only he had been allowed to play at his peak ...He was 'barred' from playing for his native country of South Africa because D'Oliveira was of mixed race or in South African terms "coloured" ) he was a good and decent man who also showed great dignity in fighting prejudices in the country of his birth and was a true gentleman.
His inclusion in the England squad to tour South Africa in 1968 led to the Tour being cancelled as the South African Government would not let thier 'white' team play agaist any team containing a black or non-white player. This lead to a sporting boycott of South Africa and no official team from any country toured there until apartheid was abolished, following Nelson Mandela’s release from prison in 1990.
