West Indies Cricketers' Controversial Tour to Apartheid South Africa

In the 1980s, some West Indies cricketers participated in a tour to apartheid South Africa, defying a major sporting boycott.

By Imani Kabeya — Fact Check · October 15, 2026 at 1:48 p.m.

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Illustrative photo · National Museum of American History / Wikimedia Commons · Domaine public

Claim: Some West Indies cricketers toured apartheid South Africa in the 1980s, breaking one of the biggest sporting boycotts.

What we found: According to Al Jazeera, during the 1980s, a period marked by widespread international condemnation of apartheid, certain cricketers from the West Indies decided to tour South Africa. This action contravened a significant global sports boycott aimed at isolating the South African regime due to its apartheid policies.

Verdict: Confirmed. It is documented that West Indies cricketers participated in tours to South Africa in violation of the international sporting boycott of the apartheid regime.

West Indies Cricketers' Controversial Tour to Apartheid South Africa

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