Interview of Raymond Price

[Detective RDS]

'I don't want to leave my country'- Raymond Price

Once he played in the Zimbabwean star team.Now playing in a Zimbabwean team which is trying to survive.Left arm spinner Raymond Price is talking about the difference between those two teams and about his past and future...

You have played in the team of Andy Flower and Heath Streak.Again you are playing in a Zimbabwean team which is fighting for survive.Do you feel the difference?

Raymond Price: Actually I don't see this fact in this way.Both the team has represented Zimbabwe.The players who are playing now,all wanted to play for their country.The players of that time also wanted the same.There is no difference between the matter of emotion or spirit.

That means there is no difference between Zimbabwean cricket of that time and today's time.

Raymond Price: No,there is of course difference.That was our dream team.What type of players!Andy Flower,Neil Johnson,Murray Goodwin,Alistair Campbell,Grant Flower...all the great names.I was the youngest player of that team.And in this team I am the eldest player!

Infact,Andy Flower is now the acting coach of England...

Raymond Price: Yes,he deserved it.He was a brilliant player.It's not very easy to become the number one player from a country like Zimbabwe.You can find better batsmen than Andy but in the cricket thoughts he was uncomparable.Actually,cricket isn't played with just bat and ball,(indicating the head by his finger) the game is played here also.Andy had that thing very much.

What's the reason of the absence of that kind of big players in this team?The talent of Zimbabwe is finished with these players!

Raymond Price: No,I think no one has become that kind of name by this team.But it will happen in the future.There is good batsmen,good bowlers.What did happen,you can call it a generation gap.The similar kind of thing happened in Bangladesh,didn't it?I amnt telling the names,but some Bangladeshi players have gone to ICL,their absence is feeled.Of course it will happen.

Didn't you get the offer of ICL?

Raymond Price: No.But if I got,I wouldn't have gone there right now.I will not join ICL till I can play for Zimbabwe.When my career will end here,I will try.There is lots of money!

Most of your former team-mates have left the country for political problems.Why did you stay?

Raymond Price: Where I will go? England!I can't tolerate that country.Too cold there.Playing 4 years there,I have broken my five fingures.I will not go there.And tell me why I will go?There is problems in all country.Don't you have it in your country(Bangladesh)?There is some more problems in our country.But it's not right to leave the country for that reason.Own country is own country.I don't want to leave my country.I am happy in Zimbabwe.

Source:

Prothom Alo (A newspaper of Bangladesh which is also released worldwide)
Sports News
Page 21
by Sports Reporter
Dated: Wednesday,21 January,2009.
Link: http://www.prothom-alo.com/archive/news ... 3&mid=OA==

This interview was written in Bengali language.I have translated it in English here.

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

What nobel thoughts. This is the way to show the world your patriotism.
Great interview
Thanks RDX

[zimfan1]

Raymond Price: Where I will go? England!I can't tolerate that country.Too cold there.Playing 4 years there,I have broken my five fingures.I will not go there.And tell me why I will go?There is problems in all country.Don't you have it in your country(Bangladesh)?There is some more problems in our country.But it's not right to leave the country for that reason.Own country is own country.I don't want to leave my country.I am happy in Zimbabwe.


as a zim boy in england i echo that england is two cold lol

looks like he will stay till the 2011 world cup and then he will call it quits which is fine by me as 3 more yers of him will be great,

he is right about the generation gap as we will have to wait 2 or 3 years for the under 16's/17's to come through

the next under 19 world cup will be very crucial in our future

[CrimsonAvenger]

Thanks for the translation, RDS. Very good interview. I wonder why the interviewer did not ask about IPL. If anyone deserves to earn big money from IPL, it has got to be Pricey. But as he himself put it, that is not his focus as of now.

[Sir Mupariwa]

interesting, lets just hope he meant what he said...its good for Zim

[Detective RDS]

What nobel thoughts. This is the way to show the world your patriotism.
Great interview
Thanks RDX

Welcome Dr Situ.Ya,I do agree too.It seems that Raymond Price really loves his motherland and has ensured that he isnt amoung the players who are leaving Zimbabwe rather than staying in Zimbabwe to play cricket.Really Pricey is a very nice person!

By the way,it's RDS not RDX.I didnt mind it but enjoyed

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Thanks for the translation Detective RDS

Thanks for the translation, RDS. Very good interview. I wonder why the interviewer did not ask about IPL. If anyone deserves to earn big money from IPL, it has got to be Pricey. But as he himself put it, that is not his focus as of now.

I guess because Bangladesh (Dhaka) has a team in the ICL and no Bangladeshi players (I think?) are in the IPL, probably ICL is more familiar to most people as opposed to the premier league.

[Detective RDS]

Thanks for the translation Detective RDS

I guess because Bangladesh (Dhaka) has a team in the ICL and no Bangladeshi players (I think?) are in the IPL, probably ICL is more familiar to most people as opposed to the premier league.

Welcome,brmtaylor.com admin.Actually in the talking with Raymond Price the matter of ICL came when Price told that Bangladesh will feel the absence of ICL players.So I think the reporter then asked him whether he got the offer of ICL or not.

Bangladesh had one player in the IPL last year and that was left arm spinner Abdur Razzak and he played for Bangalore Royal Challengers.Razzak is now suspended to bowl in international cricket for his action.He is in a process of changing his action and wanted to return quickly in the scene.This year Shakib,Tamim,Ashraful and Mashrafe will play in the IPL.

I think,Price isnt for ICL.Pricey is a player who should play in the IPL.Infact,I want to see him playing in the IPL this year as his current form is really on top.Price is really a world class player indeed!

[CrimsonAvenger]

Yes indeed, if cricketing talent alone was the yardstick, ICL or IPL would have looked at Zim players. But all they have in mind is generating revenue. There was assured huge fan following in Bangladesh, and nothing like that in Zimbabwe. So, that says it all. If the ICL really wanted to go global, they could have easily managed to form an ICL Zim team by contacting the 'rebels'.

Anyway, ICL Dhaka did a great job, which added to the popularity of ICL.

[Detective RDS]

By the time of the World Cup 2011,Price will be about around 34 years.I think,he shouldnt quit just after that.Price is one of the my very favourite players.In the recent victories of Zimbabwe over Bangladesh,Price has played the lead role and moreover there is no such an experience player in the team like Price.So,I think as long as the form of Price goes right,he should continue playing cricket for Zimabwe.He is a vital player to guide the youngsters in the right direction and to help them to be more matured in cricket.I think,he has a lot of works to do in order to help the Zimbabwean cricket reaching its former standards.I want Price to play for Zimbabwe as long as he can.