Rest of the World cricket team in England in 1970 Home Secretary James Callaghan to cancel the tour "on grounds of broad public policy". The TCCB reluctantly agreed and the invitation to the South African team was withdrawn. This meant there would be no international cricket in England in 1970 with a concomitant loss of revenue and so, at very short notice, a Rest of the World team was formed, including five South African players. Another two South Africans, Tony Greig and Basil D'Oliveira, who were resident in England, played for the home team. Guinness agreed to sponsor the tour and the County Championship clubs agreed to release any of
Tony Greig also asked the BCCI to abandon self-interest and "embrace the spirit of cricket and govern in the best interests of world cricket, not just for India and its business partners." Tony Greig is regarded fondly by Sri Lankan cricket fans. He would often take the opportunity to advertise the country as a tourist destination during his commentary. A thinly-veiled fictionalized version of Greig as a TV pundit living a rock star lifestyle behind the scenes appeared in the Gratiaen, Commonwealth and DSC South Asian Literature prize-winning novel "Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew" by Shehan Karunatilaka. Greig began to have