The Spin | The 1983 West Indian rebel tour to South Africa that shocked cricket

Source of a tip-off that blew the cover of 16 players leaving Barbados for the apartheid pariah state is finally revealed

As the England men’s team arrive at Bridgetown airport for their three white-ball matches in Barbados over the coming days, the usual scrum of local and international media interest can be expected. Nothing, however, will compare with the chaotic scenes 41 years ago in the same place when the world’s press discovered that 16 West Indies players were flying out on a rebel tour to apartheid South Africa, a renegade action that shocked the cricketing world.

The rebels had planned to depart from Barbados in total secrecy, but their cover was blown in spectacular fashion by the Guyanese cricket commentator and journalist Joseph “Reds” Perreira, who lifted the lid on the enterprise after receiving a tip-off from a senior figure in the West Indies game.

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The Spin | The 1983 West Indian rebel tour to South Africa that shocked cricket

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