Basil D'Oliveira: The symbol of courage

Basil D'Oliveira, born on October 4, 1931 in Cape Town, South Africa, played international cricket for England.  Despite his cricketing prowess, he was best known because of the "D'Oliveira affair," centred around his inclusion in the England side for a planned tour to South Africa in 1968.

D'Oliviera, also known as "Dolly", was a coloured South African cricketer who migrated to England, during the apartheid era. After a successful run in county cricket, the right-hander was selected to play for England, going on to make his debut aged 34 years against the West Indies at Lord's in June 1966.

In 1968, D'Oliviera was excluded from England's tour of South Africa, under pressure from the hosts, who felt that a coloured cricketer's participation might insidiously attack their policy of racial segregation. The tour was cancelled, and the issue ensured that South Africa would remain isolated from sporting contests with the rest of the world.