Henry Olonga: From Sachin Tendulkar's rival to struggling singer, how one armband derailed the life of Zimbabwe's fast bowler

Time of India

23-05-2025

In 1998, during the Coca-Cola Cup final in Sharjah, Indian cricket fans saw a memorable match where
Sachin Tendulkar
scored an unbeaten 124 off 92 balls. He led India to a 10-wicket win over Zimbabwe. On the other end was young fast bowler
Henry Olonga
, who gave away 50 runs in just six overs. That game made Olonga a familiar name in Indian cricket memories.
A protest that changed his life
Five years later, Olonga's life changed completely. In the 2003 World Cup, he and teammate Andy Flower wore black armbands during a match. They were protesting what they called the "death of democracy" in Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe. Their peaceful protest triggered serious consequences. Olonga received death threats and had to flee Zimbabwe. He settled in Australia.
Music career and exile
According to
The Telegraph
, Olonga turned to music after leaving cricket. He even appeared on
The Voice
in 2019. While some may not view his music career as successful, he continues to perform. He now releases songs on YouTube and performs wherever he can. He recently sang on cruise ships.
Olonga said, 'It's not necessarily the peak of music performance being on a cruise ship. In fact, some people think that singers go to die on cruise ships. It's like where you go when you haven't made it anywhere else. But I don't mind that. I don't have an ego about my music. I sing in little retirement villages, I've sung to school kids, and I've sung in little bars in front of three people. I just love singing. I love performing.'
Reflections and reality of life abroad
He still sings a song he recorded in the early 2000s during his cricketing days. Sharing the lyrics with the newspaper, he said, 'One of the lines goes: 'Though I may go to distant borders, my soul will yearn for this, my home, for time and space may separate us, and yet she holds my heart alone.' And then another is, 'As we all stand to build our nation, this is our land, our Zimbabwe.'' Olonga paused and added, 'Literally some of the words in that song... they speak of where my life is now, but when I listen to the song again, it's somewhat triggering.'
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He has not returned to Zimbabwe. He has not seen his father, now in his mid-80s and still living in Bulawayo, for over two decades. After Mugabe was removed from power in 2017 and died in 2019, Olonga considered going back. But the return never happened. 'It's in the too-hard basket. I've started a new life. I think like a Westerner now. I live in Adelaide, where things just work,' he said.
A quiet but honest life
Olonga continues to do other work to make a living. 'I've done all sorts of jobs. I've cleaned people's boats. I've done public speaking, as in motivational talks and after-dinner talks. I won't say I'm having the time of my life, because I just live a sort of drab, very predictable, boring life in some people's eyes, but at least it's honest, and I'm staying out of trouble,' he told
The Telegraph
.
Several cricketers have faced significant challenges after retiring from the sport. Notably, New Zealand's Chris Cairns and Sri Lanka's Suresh Perera have encountered difficulties in their post-cricket lives.
Chris Cairns: Legal battles and health issues
Chris Cairns, once a prominent all-rounder for New Zealand, faced a series of setbacks after his retirement in 2006. In 2010, he was accused of match-fixing by former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi, leading to a high-profile libel case. Although Cairns won the case in 2012, the legal expenses and subsequent perjury charges in 2014 strained his finances. He was acquitted in 2015 but described the ordeal as "five years of hell" and acknowledged that his reputation was "completely scorched" . Financial difficulties led him to take up manual jobs, including cleaning bus shelters, to support his family . In addition to these challenges, Cairns suffered a life-threatening heart infection in 2021, requiring multiple surgeries .
Suresh Perera: Transitioning to a new life in Australia
Suresh Perera, a former Sri Lankan all-rounder, played international cricket between 1998 and 2001. After retiring, he relocated to Perth, Western Australia, with his wife. In his new environment, Perera undertook various jobs, including working as a waiter and forklift driver, before establishing his own sporting goods business. He also continued his involvement in cricket by captaining the Bassendean Cricket Club in a local Perth competition .
These cases highlight the diverse challenges that professional athletes may face upon retiring from sports, emphasizing the importance of planning and adaptability in their post-sporting careers.