A CRICKETING legend has been granted the freedom of the city - 50 years on from a scandal that changed sporting and political history.

Basil D’Oliveira, whose exclusion from the England cricket team ahead of a tour of South Africa in 1968 sparked outrage, will now have his name inscribed on the Honorary Freeman Panel in the Guildhall in Worcester.

He was posthumously awarded the honour after a unanimous vote by city councillors at a meeting in the Guildhall on Tuesday (July 17).

The honour - the highest that Worcester City Council can bestow - was proposed by the mayor of Worcester Cllr Jabba Riaz.

Basil’s son Shaun D’Oliveira, who was at the meeting, said: “It’s a massive honour.

“It’s the highest honour the council can give to somebody, so I’m just very, very pleased.

“I was quite taken back by the way it was all presented and touched by how many councillors spoke and all the nice things they had to say.

“From a family point of view it is a massive, massive honour. I have spoken with all the family and they are absolutely over the moon.

“I’m not exactly sure what freedom of the city will mean - maybe it means we can walk sheep down the High Street.”

Cllr Riaz called on the city council to give Mr D’Oliveira the freedom of the city in recognition of the significance of the D’Oliveira Affair in turning international opinion against the apartheid regime in South Africa, leading to significant changes in South African sport and society.

Cllr Andy Roberts, who also played a key part in getting Mr D’Oliveira recognised, said it was an honour to see the motion.

Cllr Stuart Denlegh-Maxwell said Mr D’Oliveira was a “great man” and said it was “very touching” to be part of the meeting.

"Basil was a hero,” he said.

The freedom certificate will be presented to the D’Oliveira family at a civic reception in September.

Born in South Africa, Mr D’Oliveira moved to England in 1960 and settled in the city in 1964. He played for Worcestershire between 1964 and 1980 and represented England in 44 tests.

In 1968, the England team was due to play in South Africa but Mr D’Oliveira was left out because of South Africa’s apartheid rules preventing black or mixed-race players from competing against white players.

Following national outrage, Mr D’Oliveira was called up to the England squad but South Africa cancelled the tour.

The affair led to a dramatic turn in international opinion against the South African regime and is credited as being a landmark on the road to the eventual fall of apartheid in the early 1990s.

Mr D’Oliveira has become only the fourth recipient of the honour in the last decade following Cecil Duckworth in 2008, former mayor of Worcester Mike Layland and members of the Queen’s Royal Hussars regiment in 2014.