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Border forced to pull Ntini out of team

A flood of protests today led to the withdrawal of convicted rapist Makhaya Ntini, the first black to play for South Africa, from Border's team for a friendly provincial game this weekend.

Ntini, 22, was pulled out of the team after callers jammed the Border Cricket Board (BCB) switchboard.

''After due consideration we realised we were hasty in selecting Ntini,'' said BCB general manager Reunert Bauser.

''We must respect the fact that he is a convicted rapist and until such time as he is cleared he will not play.''

Ntini was dropped from the national side before this year's World Cup after he was found guilty of raping a 21-year-old woman in December. He is out on bail pending an appeal against the conviction due to be heard in October.

Bauser said the BCB offices had been inundated with wide ranging protests, including some from women's groups.

UNI