Second innings with a difference

NAGPUR: Forced to retire at the age of 31 when most batsmen attain their peak in terms of maturity and skill, Alistair Campbell is set to make amends with a new role for Zimbabwe, as chairman of selectors of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC).
An abrupt end to his playing career must have disappointed him but the former Zimbabwe skipper termed it as part of the game and gearing up for the next phase of life which is to help Zimbabwe team reach among the top sides in the near future.An aggressive left-handed opener, who called it quits in 2002 after playing 60 Tests and 188 ODIs, Campbell is also part of the commentary team of the ongoing World Cup.
"Many thought that I am an under-achiever as a cricketer. I had matured late and then retired at the age of 31. That was because of the situation in Zimbabwe cricket. I think I missed out on five years of cricket. Now I got a second chance as an administrator. You lose one thing but you have an opportunity to make amends in the other. That’s ok," the 38-year-old Campbell told TOI in an exclusive chat.
Describing his present role in ZC, he added, "I am also the chairman of cricket committee which decides about the policies for the overall improvement in standards. We act on the information received from the players and coaches. We also take into account the trends in world cricket and try to put those in practice to make our infrastructure better."
He pointed out that he along with several former cricketers are determined to take Zimbabwe cricket forward after a long exile from international cricket. He credited the change to ZC managing director Ozias Bvute. "About 18 months ago the MD gave me a phone call and said we need to take our cricket forward. There was a talk that cricket will never be the same again in Zimbabwe and it will never progress but credit must go to Bvute. He took the initiative and we just supported it," he recalled.
Once he joined hands with Bvute, the two chalked out a plan and decided to approach the former cricketers who can be beneficial for the rebuilding phase.
"After that we got in touch with the likes of Heath Streak, Grant Flower and Dave Houghton. We made an effort to work together. That’s the way it should be. It has to be team effort to get Zimbabwe back on the cricketing map. Everybody realized that what happened in the past is past and one has to look beyond," he reasoned.