MCMILLAN_NO_SURREY_27MAR1996

McMillan says `no` to Surrey

BY PETER DEELEY

BRIAN McMILLAN has pulled out of his two-year 100,000 contract with Surrey. The London club learnt yesterday that pressure from the South African United Cricket Board has forced the all-rounder to go back on the deal.

The Daily Telegraph first revealed during the World Cup that Dr Ali Bacher, the board`s managing director, had told the player of his grave reservations because of South Africa`s international commitments over the coming seasons.

This is the second major setback for Surrey in less than a week. They, along with Warwickshire, were the sponsors of David Graveney`s attempt - later withdrawn - to oust England`s chairman of selectors Ray Illingworth.

It will also be something of an embarrassment for Ian Botham who was instrumental in bringing McMillan and Surrey together - and obtaining almost an extra 20,000 for the player on top of the county`s first offer.

Although McMillan claimed that the UCB were aware of his plans, permission from the board was never officially sought, according to Dr Bacher.

McMillan is still under contract to his country until the end of May and the South African view is that they can ill-afford to allow their key all-rounder to play a summer of English domestic cricket and still expect him to be fit for a gruelling winter programme which involves nine Tests (against India and Australia) as well as 24 one-day internationals.

Surrey who, after earlier maintaining the deal was still on, were said by South African officials last night to be "very disenchanted with the whole affair".

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)