Nelson Mandela was released from Victor Verster Prison in Paarl on 11 February 1990.
This event and date effectively marked the end of apartheid and the way was soon clear for the South African team to return to the international arena.
This competition is a limited overs knockout with 50 overs per innings Despite the official ban on tours to South Africa during this period, several private tours did take place, some of them arousing great controversy.
South Africa resumed official international cricket in 1991 when the team made a short tour of India.
All of the matches played during the rebel tours had been granted first-class status, but this was subsequently and controversially withdrawn by the ICC in 1993.