January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Cup Match star returning to native South Africa
Cup Match star returning to native South Africa
The controversial all-rounder, who had Bermuda's best performance in the West Indies - taking three wickets against Bangladesh, has made a name for himself, both as a talented performer and a vocal critic of the way the sport is run in Bermuda.
He told the Bermuda Sun that he leaves the island with 'absolutely no regrets' but remains deeply concerned about the future of his sport.
Mukuddem, who also scored two Cup Match centuries during a colourful cricket career, was rarely far from the news - even after he retired from the Bermuda national team.
He recently wrote a damming article in the Royal Gazette in which he accused the Bermuda Cricket Board of failing in their duty as custodians of the game and called for more transparency and consistency from cricket's decision makers.
The piece prompted Premier Ewart Brown to call him for a meeting. But the meeting did not happen - a sign, says Mukuddem, that the sport's governing body will continue to bury its head in the sand.
"I don't think that meeting's going to happen. It hasn't happened yet. So that tells me it's not going to.
"Everybody involved with cricket, the minister - everybody, has been saying there is nothing wrong with the sport.
"For the Premier to meet with me would be an admission that something is wrong.
"Otherwise why meet me? I'm just an average Joe cricketer who just happens to be outspoken."
He insists he has no axe to grind and only spoke out because he loves the game.
"All I did was say it as it is. I left out a lot of stuff that could have landed people in trouble. The point is I want to see the game prosper in Bermuda. I want to see the guys in charge be transparent, be accountable and be channeled in their efforts."
Mukuddem insists he will always be a Bermuda fan and will follow their progress from Cape Town, where he is returning to enable his young son to spend more time with his family.
He added that he hoped Bermudian players would take up the fight.
The South African, who says he will be 'pleasantly shocked' if Bermuda makes the next World Cup, said: "It's not my fight to fight any more. My bags are packed and I've got a one way ticket home.
"I hope the attitude changes and the bar starts getting set much higher. It is a fight that needs to be fought, but it's not my fight - it needs to be fought by Bermudians. It's your home."[[In-content Ad]]
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