15th March 2003
TRIBUTE TO ANDY FLOWER
15 March 2003 - for me a day when Zimbabwe's cricket god was crucified by dirty politics. A day when cricket withered but Flower blossomed.
Words shall never ever describe the effort by this cricketer who changed the face of cricket in his country, played the role of saviour for the umpteenth time and who taught me so much apart from cricket.
Andy Flower - the Zimbabwean definition of a superhero - wore on his arm the pride of the nation, the passion to play, the commitment and the hopes of millions suffering there. It will remain a pity that the "show of emotion" at Buffalo Park was cut short by Brian Jerling.
My cricket god, who swears he is just an average cricketer who wants nothing to do with sentimentality `n fairytale endings and all that media hype, had proved a point. He sacrificed his carrier for Zimbabwe's peoples.
Andy Flower's final walk was like a scarred but unvanquished soldier trooping gracefully in his moving pursuit of excellence in spite of the wounds suffered in a long-held war. He sparkles like a dewdrop poised on a beautiful Zimbabwean flower in a garden of world cricket.
This World Cup has seen many heroes but every Indian like me and in fact our own Tendulkar would probably agree that the real heroes of WC `03 are Andy Flower and his comrade Henry Olonga.
As Andy Flower leaves the shores of Harare, it's time for mourning the death of cricket in Zimbabwe. My cricket god has been crucified so it's farewell to cricket for me but the morals, character and mental toughness which I have learnt from Andrew Flower will never ever die.
I salute the real son of Zimbabwe!
(Dr) Situ Phalswal (India)
http://content.cricinfo.com/ci/content/ ... 30596.html
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The day when Zimbabwe's cricket God was crucified
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Legend
Good post,Dr Situ.I really appreciate.
Andy Flower has always been a hero of Zimbabwean cricket.Really LEGEND.
Worlds one of the number one batsmen.
Andy Flower has always been a hero of Zimbabwean cricket.Really LEGEND.
Worlds one of the number one batsmen.
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Here are some more photos of the last ODI played by Andy Flower:
Andy Flower salutes the crowd as he leaves the field for the last time in an international game,World Cup 2003 - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at East London, 15th March 2003
Andy Flower salutes the crowd as he leaves the field for the last time in an international game,World Cup 2003 - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at East London, 15th March 2003 043419[1].jpg (22.9 KiB) Viewed 1646 times
Andy Flower and Henry Olonga stand during the playing of the national anthem at Buffalo Park in East London - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at East London, 15th March 2003
Andy Flower and Henry Olonga stand during the playing of the national anthem at Buffalo Park in East London - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at East London, 15th March 2003 12289[1].jpg (22.96 KiB) Viewed 1645 times
At the 2003 World Cup co-hosted by Zimbabwe, Flower wears a black armband to protest at Robert Mugabe's regime
At the 2003 World Cup co-hosted by Zimbabwe, Flower wears a black armband to protest at Robert Mugabe's regime _38848407_flower200x245ap[1].jpg (10.7 KiB) Viewed 1639 times
Andy Flower salutes the crowd as he leaves the field for the last time in an international game,World Cup 2003 - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at East London, 15th March 2003
Andy Flower salutes the crowd as he leaves the field for the last time in an international game,World Cup 2003 - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at East London, 15th March 2003 043419[1].jpg (22.9 KiB) Viewed 1646 times
Andy Flower and Henry Olonga stand during the playing of the national anthem at Buffalo Park in East London - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at East London, 15th March 2003
Andy Flower and Henry Olonga stand during the playing of the national anthem at Buffalo Park in East London - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at East London, 15th March 2003 12289[1].jpg (22.96 KiB) Viewed 1645 times
At the 2003 World Cup co-hosted by Zimbabwe, Flower wears a black armband to protest at Robert Mugabe's regime
At the 2003 World Cup co-hosted by Zimbabwe, Flower wears a black armband to protest at Robert Mugabe's regime _38848407_flower200x245ap[1].jpg (10.7 KiB) Viewed 1639 times
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Link: http://content.cricinfo.com/zimbabwe/co ... 26517.html
The black armband protest
Statement of Andrew Flower and Henry Olonga
Andrew Flower and Henry Olonga
February 10, 2003
Issued 9.30 a.m. February 10, 2003, at the start of Zimbabwe's opening World Cup match against Namibia.
It is a great honour for us to take the field today to play for Zimbabwe in the World Cup. We feel privileged and proud to have been able to represent our country. We are however deeply distressed about what is taking place in Zimbabwe in the midst of the World Cup and do not feel that we can take the field without indicating our feelings in a dignified manner and in keeping with the spirit of cricket.
We cannot in good conscience take to the field and ignore the fact that millions of our compatriots are starving, unemployed and oppressed. We are aware that hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans may even die in the coming months through a combination of starvation, poverty and Aids. We are aware that many people have been unjustly imprisoned and tortured simply for expressing their opinions about what is happening in the country. We have heard a torrent of racist hate speech directed at minority groups. We are aware that thousands of Zimbabweans are routinely denied their right to freedom of expression. We are aware that people have been murdered, raped, beaten and had their homes destroyed because of their beliefs and that many of those responsible have not been prosecuted. We are also aware that many patriotic Zimbabweans oppose us even playing in the Wc because of what is happening.
It is impossible to ignore what is happening in Zimbabwe. Although we are just professional cricketers, we do have a conscience and feelings. We believe that if we remain silent that will be taken as a sign that either we do not care or we condone what is happening in Zimbabwe. We believe that it is important to stand up for what is right.
We have struggled to think of an action that would be appropriate and that would not demean the game we love so much. We have decided that we should act alone without other members of the team being involved because our decision is deeply personal and we did not want to use our senior status to unfairly influence more junior members of the squad. We would like to stress that we greatly respect the ICC and are grateful for all the hard work it has done in bringing the World Cup to Zimbabwe.
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.
Andrew Flower - Henry Olonga
© Cricinfo
Statement of Andrew Flower and Henry Olonga
The statement issued by Andy Flower and Henry Olonga at the start of the match between Zimbabwe and Namibia
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Both Campbell and Olonga were not part of playing eleven in this match.
Zim fanatic since 1987
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Detective RDS wrote:Andy Flower's career in pictures:
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/cwc2003/hi ... 836587.stm
As i have quoted in some other thread also, the very first pic in this BBC site is wrong one mentioning younger bro Grant as Andy.
Zim fanatic since 1987
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I wrote this article 12 years ago on ZCO, CricInfo on this day when Andy Flower played his last international in the World Cup. With Brendan Taylor 's farewell yesterday, the post remain relevant even today. Its sad to see that despite being so much money in cricket we cannot even retain a super player like Taylor. Its painful to see players careers being curtailed. Its more painful to see ZC humiliating their selfless players. The whole world knows the immense contribution of priceless Price but the arrogant ZC didnt even give him a farewell match despite a series happening in Harare. Ray Price, you were the most sincere, selfless, proud Zimbabwean cricket ever had. The appointment of a certain Stephan Mangongo who never ever played any form of cricket dented Zimbabwean spirits the most. This guy had the guts to drop Zimbabwe's best batsman Brendan Taylor from a crucial SA match. No wonder, Taylor must have thought that time that he needs to have a plan B. Sean Williams the best allrounder we have currently was dropped from Bangladesh series last December despite apology on the disciplinary issue. This guy is among the leading allrounders in the current WC which too has Taylor as the second highest run getter.
My obituary to Zimbabwe cricket administrators, ICC as well as Sunrisers Hyderabad.
My obituary to Zimbabwe cricket administrators, ICC as well as Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Zim fanatic since 1987
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