"CSA should rethink this as Van der Merwe and Adcock were worldwide ambassadors for cricket," Pat Symcox told the daily.

"Adcock could have stepped into any world side," said Barry Richards. Paceman Fanie de Villiers, who played for both the Springboks in the old era and the Proteas, said the CSA decision was not well-considered. Boeta Dippenaar, the players' representative on the South African Cricketers Association, said CSA should have handled the matter better. "You can't change the past and you can't deny that there were players who made great contributions. There were many players who could not play internationally because of isolation and they are now being prejudiced again," Dippenaar said.