Appreciating Henry Olonga’s “courageous decision” to wear black armbands during the World Cup as a protest against the rule of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe, a British businessman has offered to sponsor the paceman to play in a county here. Sussex businessman Lawrence Mallison has stated that he was prepared to spend about 30,000 pounds for sponsoring Olonga as an overseas cricketer for Essex of any other county if the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) contiues to punish him by not picking him for future matches.“I think it is important that Henry should not be abandoned after the World Cup is over,” Mallison said, adding that his business “can at least afford to give him a well-deserved foot-up. Getting him over here might also help him make contacts that could lead on to something else.” Though Essex liked the idea, they have doubts over giving any opportunity to Olonga as their two overseas players including Andy Flower of Zimbabwe are expected to be available for the whole season.Olonga, who created a stir by wearing the armband during the initial stage of the tournament alongwith Andy Flower, reacted positively to news of the offer. “I would be very interested and certainly open to the idea,” he was quoted as saying in The Times today.“With all my problems with form and injury over the years, I’d always shied away from the idea of county cricket. But in the last six months, I’ve had only one niggle and have been bowling consistently and with good pace,” said Olonga as Zimbabwe prepare to begin their Super Six campaign in the World Cup with the match against New Zealand tomorrow. “Music is my potential other career, but I wouldn’t know whether I would make it. I want to keep going with what I know I can do, which is play cricket.”Meanwhile, a member of the Zimbabwe coaching staff declared that Olonga should still be in the side. “Henry is bowling better than he has ever been and it is so frustrating we can’t have him in the starting XI,” the source said.
