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 Dawson gets World Cup chance
Posted: Friday April 23, 1999 11:27 AM
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -- All-rounder Alan Dawson will replace black fast bowler Makhaya Ntini in South Africa's World Cup squad, the country's cricket chiefs said on Friday. Dawson was called up for the tournament starting in England on May 14 following Ntini's conviction for rape in East London and subsequent withdrawal from the squad by the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA). Ntini, 21, the first black African cricketer ever selected for the national team, was found guilty on Friday of raping a 22-year-old East London student last December 1. He is to be sentenced on April 30, but plans to appeal the verdict. Dawson helped South Africa to win the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur last September but has played just one official limited overs international. He is an accomplished batsman and right-arm medium-fast bowler who can swing the ball, being Western Province's leading wicket-taker in the 1997-98 domestic season. "The World Cup will undoubtedly be the highlight of my career," Dawson said from Cape Town. "But these are very sad and unfortunate circumstances to be going under. "Bob [Woolmer, the South African coach] did tell me to keep myself fit after the domestic season, just in case." Woolmer expressed his disappointment over the Ntini affair, but was also pleased to have Dawson's all-round talents among South Africa's options at the World Cup. "It's very unfortunate that it [Ntini's conviction] has happened at this stage," Woolmer said. "But Dawson played a major role in our Commonwealth Games gold medal and he is certainly capable of doing a job for us at the World Cup."
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