Zimbabwe's Sibanda plans new life in Sydney
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
AFP
Vusi Sibanda tells the Sydney Morning Herald’s Alex Brown how he plans to walk away from international cricket in Zimbabwe to play for a Sydney club side.
There is little joy in Sibanda's voice when he outlines his intention to retire aged 23 in pursuit of what would seem an inverse sporting dream. Sitting in the pavilion at Bankstown Oval, a fortnight after playing at the World Cup, Sibanda wearily details the social and sporting decline of his homeland.
"I had dreamed of playing for Zimbabwe all my life but, over the years, it has changed a lot," he says, having just guided an invitational African XI to victory in the annual Cricket Masala tournament in western Sydney. "The young guys have been left to clean up the mess. In the last three years, I don't feel like my game has improved, and I believe that will happen in Australia."
Peter English is former Australasia editor of ESPNcricinfo