WORCESTERSHIRE County Cricket Club chairman John Elliott has led the tributes to Basil D'Oliveira on the award of his CBE.

County and England legend D'Oli-veira, already bestowed with an OBE, receives the accolade in today's Queen's Birthday Honours.

The 74-year-old, suffering from ill health, will go down in history for exposing the true nature of South Africa's apartheid regime during his time as batsman for England, his adopted country.

Elliott, a former Worcestershire team-mate of D'Oliveira, said: "It's a wonderful achievement for a wonderful guy who all through his life has trodden that line of diplomacy.

"It's a well-deserved achievement for him.

"It's very special for Basil and the family. I'm delighted and pleased for the them all."

South African-born D'Oliveira was embroiled in a controversy in 1968 when he was excluded from the England Test side selected to tour his homeland -- allegedly because of his race.

The withdrawal of Tom Cartwright through injury, however, saw D'Oliveira called up at the last minute.

But that decision caused such a commotion that it led to the tour being banned by the South African government and the cutting of sporting links with the country until apartheid was removed.

D'Oliveira's application and subsequent exposing of the inequalities throughout those turbulent times particularly endears himself to Elliott and fellow players.

The New Road chairman added: "The one thing that was outstanding for me is the way he handled himself throughout the years apartheid reared its head.

"Apart from his cricket, it was the way as a man he handled the controversy which he was involved in."

Elliott has known D'Oliveira ever since he arrived at New Road in the early 1960s when the pair struck up an immediate friendship.

"He has been a big friend of mine all those years," Elliott said. "When he first arrived for pre-season I took him to my parents for a meal and we've been friends ever since."

Elliott added: "I have been on the committee for 20 years and chairman for seven. I have got wonderful memories of Basil and too many stories to think about.

"Nothing comes as a surprise to me for Basil because he's that sort of man he deserves everything he gets."