HENRY OLONGA

'Henry Khaaba Olonga' (born 3 July, 1976 in Lusaka, Zambia) was a cricket player for Zimbabwe. He made his international debut in a Test match against Pakistan at Harare in 1995, at age 18 years, 212 days, becoming the youngest player to represent Zimbabwe. He helped Zimbabwe to its first ever Test victory in that game. That year, he was no-balled for throwing in a Test match, and rebuilt his action before returning to cricket. A right arm fast bowler, Olonga was the first black cricketer to play for Zimbabwe and is the second Zambian-born Test cricketer after Phil Edmonds of England.
Olonga achieved international recognition (along with team mate Andy Flower) in 2003 by wearing a black armband in a Cricket World Cup match to protest against the policies of Zimbabwe's government, led by Robert Mugabe. He and Flower released a statement on 10 February, stating in part:
:In all the circumstances, we have decided that we will each wear a black armband for the duration of the World Cup. In doing so we are mourning the death of democracy in our beloved Zimbabwe. In doing so we are making a silent plea to those responsible to stop the abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe. In doing so, we pray that our small action may help to restore sanity and dignity to our nation.
This act led to a warrant issued in Zimbabwe for Olonga's arrest on charges of treason (which carries the death penalty in Zimbabwe) and forced him to retire from international cricket and temporarily go into hiding.
Olonga played 30 Test matches for Zimbabwe, taking 68 wickets with a bowling average of 38.52, and 50 one-day internationals, taking 58 wickets at an average of 34.08. He holds the record for the best bowling in a one-day international by a Zimbabwean, with figures of 6/19 against England at Cape Town in 2000.
He met physical education teacher Tara Read, while both were attending the Australian Institute of Sport's cricket program in Adelaide. The couple married in 2004^[1].
On Friday 13th October 2006, Olonga won ''Five's'' ''The All Star Talent Show'' with 50% of the overall votes.
Olonga is now pursuing a career as a cricket commentator and singer and released an album, 'Aurelia' in 2006.

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References

External links

References

1. http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/olongawed.11701.html

External links

★ Henry Olonga Official Website

★ Full text of Olonga and Flower's World Cup protest statement

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