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Heart-breaking stories of men who undertook the rebel tour of South Africa in 1982-83

In 1983-83, a bunch of West Indian players set out to play in apartheid-banned South Africa. It was a highly-secretive mission that came about after months of negotiations.

user-circle cricketcountry.com Written by Cricket Country Staff
Published: Jun 21, 2015, 09:37 AM (IST)
Edited: Jun 21, 2015, 09:37 AM (IST)

In 1983-83, a bunch of West Indian players set out to play in apartheid-banned South Africa. It was a highly-secretive mission that came about after months of negotiations. Not everybody could be lured by the money they were offered. The repercussions would be huge on return back to the Caribbean. But those who did make the tour did not realise how severe the backlash would be.

The players were pilloried and remain not forgiven to this day. David Murray lost his family and became a drug addict. Richard Austin and Herbert Chang, found their life in a whirlpool. This documentary — Branded a Rebel — produced by CNN brings together the whole episode and presents both sides of the story. Franklyn Stephenson, King and Murray speak about their versions and reasons, which too date, aren’t accepted by most people in Barbados. As discussed in the documentary, the rebel tour remains one of the most controversial times in West Indies cricket.

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