Henry Olonga
By Lovemore Dube 8/12/2022
Henry Khaaba Olonga one of Zimbabwe’s finest batsman cut short a glowing cricket career by dabbling in politics in 2003.
At the age of 27 he found himself at odds with the Government after putting on Black Arm Bands with Zimbabwe cricket team captain Andy Flower. This was in protest of then President Robert Mugabe’s policies for which he was under fire from the West for human rights abuse and an uneven political ground.
His actions were deemed treasonous and that marked the end of him representing Zimbabwe as seeds of certain players mainly White began to show. It was until the next year when a majority pulled out of the Test side alleging mismanagement of the sport by some of the Black administrators.
Born in Lusaka, Zambia on 3 July 1976 to a Kenyan father and a Zimbabwean mother, Olonga attended primary school at Reps and secondary school in the region where he shone as a sprinter and cricketer.
He is part of two of the five siblings who earned international stardom through sport with the other Victor a controversial former rugby national team player.
Olonga made his A Cricket debut in 1993 for Matabeleland in the Logan Cup and continued to rise as a star.
Olonga got the chance to play Test cricket in 1995 and became the youngest person and first Black player to represent Zimbabwe at that level.
With the treason charge pending Olonga headed to the United Kingdom where he set base and pursued a career in cricket commentary and singing.
When he started his career at top level he had problems with his bowling action which was described as throwing. After remedial work, he was back at the crease to torment batsmen with his fast bowling that claimed the scalps of many a great player.
Despite his reputation for lightning fast bowling, his stay at the crease was often blighted by many no-balls and wides.
He eventually got his attack right and showed his strike bowling prowess during the Pakistan Tour of 1998-99 when he tore apart the experienced Pakistan top order as Zimbabwe won the first Test.
In the first ball he took a wicket but would later be no-balled for throwing and has Dennis Lillee to thank for correcting his action.
He was part of the Zimbabwe team at the World Cup in 1995 after missing out on the opening games, when given a chance in the last match he asked to be dropped as he was not mentally fit for the task.
He became a permanent fixture of the team until 2003 playing alongside Alistair Campbell, Andy and Grant Flower, Heath Streak, Stuart Carlisle, Andy Blignaut to mention a few great names associated with the game.
The build up to the 2003 World Cup ended his career when the arm band issue put him at cross roads with his conscience and the country.
Olonga and the senior players fought to know how much money was being put into cricket and sought to get better deals.
After retirement he has recommended a viable cricketers union that stands for the players’ welfare and has spoken about the divisions in the sport White v Black, Shona v Ndebele and Rich v Poor.
In 2015, Olonga moved to Adelaide in South Australia where he settled with his two children and wife who is a native of that country.
He is the author of Blood, Sweat, and Treason: My Story
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