Basil D'Oliveira, 1931-2011 'A flagship for all those who despised apartheid

'He became a flagship for all those who despised the whole concept of apartheid.'

Tributes for the South Africa-born former England allrounder Basil D'Oliveira, who has died in England, aged 80

"He was a man of true dignity and a wonderful role model as somebody who overcame the most extreme prejudices and circumstances to take his rightful place on the world stage."
Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola.

"It is a sad time for us as a family but after a long battle against Parkinson's disease dad passed away peacefully, although it is difficult we will celebrate a great life rather than mourn a death."
D'Oliveira's son Damian.

"We are just finishing a book on our [Western Province's} 121-year history and the story of Basil is central in that. It shows the huge waste of human potential that happened during the Aparthied era and the courage and feistiness of people who were excluded at that time. They created rich cultures that we are benefiting from today."
Andre Odendaal, the chief executive of Western Province cricket and a cricket historian.

"History may well decide that the lives of millions of non-white South Africans would have been made wretched for even longer but for Basil d'Oliveira."
Scyld Berry, writing in the Daily Telegraph.

"It's terrible news to me because Basil was one of the my best friends. I can remember saying, 'If he doesn't go, I'm not going' because we were such great friends and he'd done everything to go and get back into the team, so it was politics I'm afraid. It was very sad."
Former Worcestershire and England player Tom Graveney on his team-mate and the 1968 tour.

"From a county point of view, he was a massive part of the club's history and his family name lives on through Damian and grandson Brett."
Worcestershire captain Daryl Mitchell.

"He became a flagship for all those who despised the whole concept of apartheid. Basil D'Oliveira's influence helped to usher in a world where apartheid was consigned to the dustbin."
Pat Murphy, who wrote D'Oliveira's autobiography 'Time to Declare'.

"His is the example I use when people tell me sport & politics should never mix. Sport can have huge political influence in right situation."
 Source:http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/541171.html