Empire Cricket Booklet

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GOOLAM VAHED AND VISHNU PADAYACHEE

of 'lack of a interest and few understood the game'. 39 In October 1894, the Durban Indian Cricket Union (DICU) was formed at St Aidan's School with East ern Stars, Western Stars, Union Jacks, Yorkshire, Greyville, Evening Stars, Rainbow, Railway, NGR Morning Stars and Point Road School as members. 40 DICU hosted fixtures intermittently, and became more active with the arrival of Indian refugees forced to flee from Transvaal and Northern Natal by invading Boer commandos during the South African War (1899-1902). The Natal government's handling of the Indian refugee problem provides further evidence of the second-class status of Indians. The outbreak of the war in October 1899 severely affected Indians. In

with Natives and Indians' had arrived from Dundee. Most refugees made their way to Durban. Several thousand Indians from the Transvaal joined them. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the Natal government was reluctant to remove restrictions on Indian entry. The Immigration Restriction Act required a deposit of £10 from those who wished to visit temporarily. Gandhi asked the government in July 1899 to suspend this proviso during the 'period of tension'. The government refused, but was forced to reverse its decision by Alfred Milner, the British high commissioner. The Natal government also instructed shipping lines in Delagoa Bay not to carry Indian passengers to Natal. Again, it was forced to change its position as a result of pressure from Milner. A frustrated Gandhi questioned why Natal

The Pirates Cricket Club 1914/1915 Left to right, standing: C. R. George, L. C. B. Ephraim, B.Barnabas, J. John, J.Samuel, D. C. Andrews, T. Baboodas Seated: A. Christopher, R.L.Munbodhi (vice captain), M. B. Lazarus (captain), D.S. Kaisval, V. N. Thumbadoo Advocate Albert Christopher, M. B. Lazarus, D. Kaisval and V.N. Thumbadoo represented Natal in the Barnato tournament in Kimberley in 1913.

northern Natal, republican commandos had laid siege to major towns and Indians were 'scattered in all directions'. Gandhi reported in December 1899 that 'British Indians, merchants and others, leaving all their belongings, vacated those places with quiet resignation. All this shows intense attachment to the Throne.' On 18 October 1899, the Natal Mercury reported that 'two trains crowded

was making special arrangements to receive white prostitutes and criminals from the Transvaal but 'British [Indian] subjects could not find shelter on British soil'. 41 DICU was reconstituted as Durban District Indian Cricket Union (DDICU or Union) in 1901 by edu cated Indians keen to establish cricket. The Standard