Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia
Held on Friday, Saturday & Sunday
10th, 11th & 12th April 2026
Lot 324
Estimate: £30/50
Hammer: £55
Arosa Sri Lanka ‘rebel’ tour to South Africa 1982/83. Official Transvaal Cricket Council autograph sheet with printed title and players’ names, fully signed in ink by all fifteen listed members of the Sri Lanka touring party. Signatures are Warnapura (Captain), Opatha (Player Manager), Gunatilleke, Aponso, G.R.A. de Silva, P.B. de Silva, Devapriya, Fernando, Hettiaratchy, Kaluperuma, Karunaratne, Perera, Ranasinghe, Woutersz and McKinnon (Liaison). Horizontal folds, otherwise in very good condition.
Sri Lanka had played their inaugural Test matches earlier in 1982, captained by Warnapura, when it was announced he was leading a rebel tour with player/ manager A.R. Opotha to South Africa. A highly controversial decision, all the players were ostracised on their return home and never played for their country again. Results on the field were no better, with the makeshift team failing to win a tour match and losing the four one day internationals and two unofficial ‘Test’ matches.