Mbalula: SA has lost a legend

Cape Town - Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula has paid his respects to former SA cricket captain Clive Rice who passed away in hospital on Tuesday.

Rice, 66, had been suffering from a brain tumour in recent times.

Rice's career coincided directly with South Africa's sporting isolation and his international experience was limited to his post-prime days.

He played three One Day Internationals for South Africa following the country's return from sporting isolation - against India in 1991.

Mere months later he was controversially left out of the squads for the one-off Test against the West Indies and the 1992 Cricket World Cup.

Mbalula took to social media to salute Rice who he described as a legend.

Mbalula tweeted on Tuesday:

On the sad passing of Former South African captain Clive Rice, condolences to his family. S.A has lost a legend. pic.twitter.com/dGFOh8co3d

— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) July 28, 2015

Rice, a former Transvaal captain, played 482 first class matches, scoring 26 331 runs at an average of 40.95.

He also took 930 wickets at an average of 22.49.