From Riches to Rags! 5 Cricketers who went Bankrupt
- From Riches to Rags! 5 cricketers who went from stardom to poverty in the blink of an eye
Mangaluru: We have heard stories about “Rags to Riches”, where people who had nothing became super rich- but this article is about five cricketers who went from “Riches to Rags” within no time. Indian batting talisman Virat Kohli is worth 90 crores, Chris Gayle owns a mansion which can put to shame any five-star hotel and Mahendra Singh Dhoni has a rare collection of expensive superbikes. Yes, cricketers, these days are considered demi-gods and are paid like one for their job. Once you have played international cricket you are quite guaranteed of a financially sound future.
But even a few years back retirement from the game did not mean one would survive with the earnings made from one’s career. Some cricketers hit poverty, many misused their wealth and went bankrupt. Here we list five cricketers who went from stardom to poverty in the blink of an eye–
About Adam Hollioake:
He last played for England in 1999 but continued plying his trade for clubs till 2007. Hollioake then moved to Australia to take care of his family business. There was a huge property boom in the country that time and Adam made huge profits. But then the recession hit the world and his organization lost financial stability.
The company was dissolved in 2009 and two years later he was declared bankrupt. To make both ends meet Hollioake then turned to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). In one of his articles, he has written that he is not sad about losing such money but feels sorry for his children. Hollioake in total had played four Test matches and 35 ODIs for England in which he had bagged 34 wickets.
About Graeme Pollock:
He was a legendary South African left-handed batsman but his glittering career was cut short by sporting isolation. Two years back Pollock faced a financial crunch as he suffered losses close to 250,000 dollars when his brokerage business failed. He was also diagnosed with colon cancer and Parkinson’s disease which led to more money being spent. Soon after he was in danger of losing his house and also suffered a heart-attack. In 2014 Pollock’s agent had requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises to help the 72-year-old.
“Financially, Graeme is fighting to keep the wolves from his door. It’s really sad to see someone who brought so much joy to cricket, in this position,” Pollock’s agent Basil O’ Hagan had said.
About Paul Strang:
He was very well known for his leg-spinners and googlies and was a regular in the Zimbabwean side during the mid-90s. But political turmoil affected him and he had to stay away from the game. He was grief-stricken and incurred heavy financial losses. He was also thrown into prison for rebelling and he had attempted suicide too. He later took to Yoga to help him get back to normal life. Between 1995 and 2001 Strang had picked up 56 wickets in 26 Tests and 46 wickets in 49 ODIs for Zimbabwe. He is presently travelling the world teaching the values of Youth.
“I found God and it changed my life,” Strang was quoted by the Indian Express in 2010. “I was angry with myself, my country and my life. By the time my career fizzled out, the revolution took ground in Zimbabwe.” “It was a terrible time in our lives. I was a white man who believed in harmony, somebody who wanted to be a monk in the Himalayas before I got fascinated by cricket. But all that changed when our lands were taken away from us. My anger made me rebel against the law.”
About Matthew Sinclair:
He will always be remembered as the batsman who scored a double ton on Test debut. Sinclair later made his ODI debut and went on to score 1304 runs from 54 outings in the format. He, however, quit international cricket in 2013 and domestic cricket in 2013. He then went around without a job for a few months. He later became a salesman. But Sinclair’s lack of education hampered his chances of bagging a lucrative job. He finally succeeded in getting the job of a real-estate salesman which has provided his bread and butter for some time now.
Last year, he had sparked a manhunt when his wife had called police saying he had run away with their two kids. Sinclair was found with the kids, a few blocks away at a restaurant. “The personal scene is very tough, “he had told the Indian Express before the incident. “There are few problems with my wife, I must say. We are trying to work things (out) together. “She has been a cricket widow for a long time – taking care of our kids while I have been away and also, this entire financial situation. It’s not been easy for her. Or for me. We are working at it.”
About Chris Cairns:
He was one of the most gifted all-rounders and could hit massive sixes into the stands at will. After retiring from the game he started working as a diamond merchant in Dubai in 2010 and got engaged to Australian Mel Croser. Two years later he made some money in a libel case where he had sued former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi.
But in 2013 match-fixing allegations rose around him and he had to bear the expenses for the legal costs. To make both ends meet Cairns took to cleaning bus shelters. Later in 2014, he was charged with perjury in England. Cairns as a cricketer had scored 3320 runs from 62 Tests and bagged 218 wickets. In One-Dayers he had 4950 runs and 201 wickets from 215 outings.
Inputs from YahooNews