Rowe apologizes for South Africa tour

Minutes after the official ceremony naming the Players' Pavilion at Sabina Park in his honour, Lawrence Rowe officially apologized for leading the 'Rebel' tour to South Africa. In a short prepared
statement, the stylish right handed batsman said that after 28 years he felt this was the right time to apologize.

"It is common knowledge, that 28 years ago, I led a team of West Indian cricketers on a tour to South Africa. South Africa at that time was banned from international cricket because of the Apartheid regime that was enforced in that country.

The tour, which along with other such ones was grouped as the Rebel tours, was organized and conducted without the approval of the West Indies Cricket Board of Control.  Such tours in fact were outlawed by the cricket boards all over the world, by governments including the government of Jamaica, by the ICC and by other international organizations including the United Nations.

Understandably, the tour offended the people of Jamaica and throughout the cricket playing countries of the Caribbean.

Today, I sincerely apologize to the cricket fraternity of Jamaica, the Caribbean and the rest of the world.

Thank You."