ZCB to consider their response to Olonga and Flower
Bob Dubery
6
A huge question mark was hanging over Andy Flower's international career on
Monday after he and Zimbabwe teammate Henry Olonga launched a scathing
attack on President Robert Mugabe and his government.
Their criticism, made moments before Zimbabwe's opening World Cup game
against Namibia, could further disrupt the tournament.
It may also have a fundamental effect on both players' cricketing futures.
Former captain Flower, at 34, is nearing the end of his sporting shelf-life
anyway. But it remains to be seen whether the Zimbabwean authorities will
tolerate him playing another World Cup game wearing a black armband
"mourning the death of democracy" in his beloved Zimbabwe.
Flower and Olonga's protest - "a silent plea to those responsible to stop
the abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe" - may come to rank among other
memorable political protests by sportsmen.
In the 1968 Mexico Olympics, American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos
gave a black-power salute from the 200 metres medal podium to protest at the
treatment of blacks in the United States.
The incident caused outrage and they were suspended and ordered to leave the
Olympic village. Both found it difficult to get jobs for years to come.
Heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali refused to serve with the US forces in
Vietnam in 1967, saying: "I ain't got no quarrel with then Vietcong." He was
subsequently stripped of his world title, prevented from travelling abroad
and only got his licence back three years later.
At the 1994 Commonwealth Games, Australian Cathy Freeman also made her
point, celebrating her 400 metres gold medal by running her victory lap with
a huge Aboriginal flag, infuriating team officials.
Flower, whose brother Grant also plays in the side, will certainly have
angered the Mugabe administration. The Zimbabwe Cricket Union - to whom
Mugabe acts as patron - said it was considering its response on Monday.
World Cup organisers are unlikely to be too happy either, with England still
considering a boycott of their match in Harare on Thursday because of the
social and political unrest there and Australia monitoring the situation
before playing in Bulawayo. Flower and Olonga's comments are unlikely to
have soothed English nerves.
DISREPUTE CHARGE
The International Council (ICC), constantly stressing its non-political
status, could also intervene with a disrepute charge. Black armbands are
usually only tolerated in cases such as bereavement.
Flower is arguably Zimbabwe's greatest ever player, with more than 200
one-day appearances and 63 tests in a 12-year career. In 2001, he reached
the top of the world test ratings.
He still averages more than 50 in tests, a benchmark passed by only the very
best players.
Flower is already preparing for the next stage of his cricketing life. He
has already handed over the wicketkeeping gloves to youngster Tatenta Taibu
to help develop the next generation of Zimbabwean cricketers.
He seems certain to spend more time in England in the near future after his
success with English county Essex last season.
Olonga, the first black player to represent Zimbabwe and the quickest bowler
in the country, may have more to lose after putting his name to a statement
which followed months of diplomatic side-stepping of political issues by
skipper Heath Streak and the rest of the team.
At 26, Olonga is still young, with years of cricket ahead of him.
A committed Christian, born in Zambia and with a Kenyan father, he is a fine
singer and considered an acting career before turning to cricket. It is
tempting to suggest he might still make a career switch.
After Flower's short innings against Namibia on Monday - at a ground
nestling right in the shadow of Mugabe's presidential residence - the
left-hander made a small gesture to the Harare Sports Ground crowd as he
walked back to the pavilion.
It could have been interpreted as a goodbye.