Olonga seeks asylum in England

JOHANNESBURG: Fast bowler Henry Olonga, reportedly in hiding to avoid treason charges, has again been rebuked by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union for using the World Cup to make political statements.

Olonga quit international cricket following Zimbabwe’s loss to Sri Lanka in a Super Six match on Saturday, saying it was too dangerous for him to return to Harare. He was reportedly seeking asylum in England in the wake of his “death of democracy” protest against Robert Mugabe’s regime that gained international headlines during Zimbabwe’s World Cup opener against Namibia in Harare. The Sunday Telegraph newspaper of London reported that Olonga was hiding in a “safe house” after Zimbabwean secret police officers travelled to East London, South Africa, to “escort” him to Harare, where he could face treason charges.

The maximum penalty for treason in Zimbabwe is death. “He was pretty shaken but he seemed to be coping as well as anyone can in a situation like that,” reported the newspaper, quoting an unnamed Zimbabwe player. However, a Zimbabwe cricket spokesman said Olonga was with the squad and rejected reports that the 26-year-old paceman would be escorted home. “It think it’s all lies,” Babu Meman, the team’s media manager, said in a telephone interview yesterday. “Henry is with the team, we’re all at the hotel.

The squad will fly back to (Johannesburg) and then return to Harare ... some players are staying on for a little longer.” Olonga said he’d been receiving threats since his protest. He played only one match —- in the Super Six loss to Kenya —- after the win over Namibia and was again sidelined against Sri Lanka.