 The D 'Oliveira affair was a prolonged political and sporting controversy relating to the scheduled 1968 – 69 tour of South Africa by the England cricket team , who were officially representing the Marylebone Cricket Club ( MCC ) . The point of contention was whether or not the England selectors would include Basil D 'Oliveira , a mixed @-@ race South African player who had been living in England for some time. sierpniu 1968 , the MCC announced that D 'Oliveira would be included in the touring party .
The South African government had threatened to ban the tour, but the MCC refused to cancel D 'Oliveira's selection