TWENTY EIGHT years after leading a group of West Indies cricketers to Apartheid ruled South Africa, former stylish batsman Lawrence Rowe, says he is sorry.

In a release to the media Rowe expressed his sorrow for offending his countrymen and the cricketing world.

“Understandably, the tour offended the people of Jamaica and throughout the cricket playing countries of the Caribbean. Today, I sincerely apologise to the cricket fraternity of the Caribbean and the world,” Rowe said.  

South Africa had been banned from international cricket and other sports because of the cruel Apartheid regime that was in force in the country.

Private interests in the racially divided country negotiated with Rowe and other West Indian cricketers to take part in the ‘rebel tour’ which saw Rowe and his West Indian team touring as ‘Honorary Whites’ in order to be allowed certain privileges which were afforded to the white Afrikaners, who ruled the country at the the time.

The squad which took park in two tours between 1983 and 1984 was Lawrence Rowe (captain), Richard Austin, Herbert Chang, Sylvester Clarke, Colin Croft, Alvin Greenidge, Bernard Julien, Alvin Kallicharran, Collis King, Everton Mattis, Ezra Moseley, David Murray, Derick Parry, Franklyn Stephenson, Emmerson Trotman, Ray Wynter, Albert Padmore (player/manager).