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Henry Olonga was a cricket prodigy. At 18, he became the youngest player and the first black to represent Zimbabwe in a Test match when he debuted against Pakistan.

The right-arm fast bowler helped Zimbabwe to its first ever Test triumph in that match.

He helped Zimbabwe to its first ever Test victory in that game.

Along with team-mate Andy Flower, they created an international incident when they wore armbands during the 2003 World Cup to protest human rights abuses in their homeland.

The Robert Mugabe government then made Olonga and Fowler criminals on charges of treason, which is punishable by death in Zimbabwe.

He was forced into exile and moved to England.

Bermuda Sun reporter James Whittaker had the opportunity to ask Olonga a few questions.

Sun: What do you think of the standard of Zimbabwe cricket now?

Olonga: I believe that it is very poor compared to what it should be and what it used to be. To be fair Zimbabwe cricket was always the bottom of the pile among the Test playing nations but we were capable of the odd upset here and there. Now it seems we are even vulnerable to Associate countries like Kenya.

Sun: What inspired your black-arm band protest at the World Cup in 2003 and how has that affected your life?

Olonga: A long story really. In a nutshell, human rights abuses and bad governance in the country. The statement drafted by and Andrew Flower hopefully gives a full insight into why we did it.

Sun: How has the fall-out from that and other high-profile resignations affected the quality of the team?

Olonga: I don’t feel that our personal issues after the World Cup affected the issues that have subsequently befallen Zimbabwe cricket. These have been caused in my humble uninformed opinion by mismanagement and player bullying.

Sun: How do you feel when you see Zimbabwe play now (for instance losing to West Indies 5-0), when you consider the potential the squad had five or six years ago?

Olonga: It is obviously heart wrenching for me as I was witness to Zimbabwe cricket’s growth over a ten year period starting back when I was still at school. It is on the positive side an opportunity for these young men to live a dream and for that we must celebrate. But I sometimes pity the dream they are living as it may be more a nightmare than a dream.

Sun: Have you ever seen/heard anything of Bermuda cricket? How do you think they compare with Zimbabwe's current XI?

Olonga: To be honest I never knew cricket was played at a high level in Bermuda as my experience has been limited to test cricketing nations and associate member states we have played like Kenya and Canada.

Sun: Bermuda is an emerging cricket nation. Do you think they or any other of the Affiliates can ever get a place at the sport’s top table?

Olonga: I suppose that as long as the personnel are there who have the energy, drive commitment and vision anything is possible. Kenya made it to the semi finals of the last World Cup and it wasn’t a fluke. They had good players. But for a smaller nation to hold its own against the big boys consistently there needs to be a balance of youthful enthusiasm and tempered experience. There also needs to be transparent administration of the game to prevent corruption. These are two things the Zimbabwe cricket team once possessed but now sorely lacks.

Sun: What is the future, in your view, for Zimbabwe cricket. Is there anything that would possess you to come back and play cricket for Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe cricket has a long road back. I suppose it may take decades to rebuild the team to compete with the top nations but I for one have moved on in life and I am now a fulltime artist and musician.

Sun: Tell us a little bit about what you're up to now, where you’re living and your singing career!

Olonga: I am based in the U.K. and I am finishing my album in August/September and also flirting with a few art commissions. Other than that life is good, especially now that the summer has arrived in the U.K.[[In-content Ad]]

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