da apostebet： Shane Warne has been offered the chance to roll his arm over for theself-proclaimed
AAP20-Mar-2003Shane Warne has been offered the chance to roll his arm over for theself-proclaimed “Harlem Globetrotters of Cricket” the Lashings club inEngland.The Kent-based club, basically a glorified social side paying good moneyto attract outstanding players, confirmed it was chasing the signaturesof Australia’s suspended leg spinner Warne and Zimbabwean runaway HenryOlonga, who is in hiding in South Africa.”I can confirm that Lashings Cricket Club has made direct approaches toboth players and we are at present awaiting responses from the agents ofOlonga and Warne,” said Lashings’ spokesman David Folb.”Our desire to sign Olonga is self-explanatory given his stance againstthe oppressive regime of his home country, Zimbabwe.”As far as Warne is concerned obviously we are aware of the delicateposition that he is in with regard to world cricket and understand theimplications of the ban that the player has received from the AustralianCricket [Board].”He will serve his ban from international cricket and this club cannever condone the misuse of drugs in any walk of life let alone cricket.However, his contribution to world cricket outweighs by some margin themore recent misdemeanour that has been committed and this is the reasonbehind our approach.”During his absence from Test and county cricket Warne would be aconsiderable asset to us not only from a playing perspective but also interms of coaching and other work within the community.”By playing for ourselves, he will still be able to retain involvementin the game while at the same time keeping himself in shape for some ofthe demanding challenges that he will face upon the cessation of hissuspension.”Warne is serving a 12-month ban for testing positive to a banneddiuretic.It remains to be seen whether Warne’s suspension will prevent him fromplaying for Lashings.Folb said feedback had been positive, not the least because Warne’sformer Australian Test and one-day team-mate Mark Waugh was due torepresent Lashings soon.Lashings – named after the English pub and the beach-bar in Antigua thatWarne and all the Australian players visit on tours of the Caribbean -have lured Sir Vivian Richards, Brian Lara, Richie Richardson, CurtlyAmbrose, Shoaib Akhtar and Wasim Akram into their team in the past.Meanwhile, Olonga said he would remain in hiding in South Africa becauseof threats to his safety.The fast bowler, who made World Cup protests with team-mate Andy Floweragainst human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, said he could not confirmreports that the Zimbabwean secret police were searching for him.”I don’t know what the facts are,” he told the South Africa BroadcastingCorporation.”I must be wise about my movements, about my location, you can’t ruleanything out.”I’m keeping low. It’s hearsay but they are warnings and I have takenthem seriously.”