5 International Cricketers Who Went From Riches To Rags: Cricket in countries other than the Big Three – which are India, England and Australia – isn’t a really great financially rewarding sport. Especially if the player not from these three nations is also not part of the IPL, then they really need to look after themselves financially, for there is only a certain point till they can push their bodies to play the sport at the highest level.
Even when some players become rich by making tons of money, sometimes they don’t use it properly and profligate their resources, ending up even in a poor situation.
There are a number of riches to rags stories in cricket.
But, today, here we bring you some riches to rags tale of international cricketers:
Chris Cairns
A fine New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns, who was recently diagnosed with bowel cancer, represented his country in 62 Tests and 215 ODIs between 1989 and 2006 and made a decent amount of money by playing for a long time at the highest level.
However, after retirement, Cairns’ life entered turmoil as he faced match-fixing allegations in 2013. Even though he was later found non-guilty, the costs of legal proceedings ultimately ran Cairns’ bank balance dry. This led him into bankruptcy which later forced him to do menial jobs such as sweeping and cleaning in Auckland.
Arshad Khan
Former off-spinner Arshad Khan represented Pakistan from 1998 to 2006. In 9 Tests and 58 ODIs, he snared a total of 88 wickets, including a memorable scalp of Sachin Tendulkar. However, he wasn’t the best decision-maker as looking for some quick cash, Arshad made a grave mistake by signing a deal with the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League in 2008, ending his international career with Pakistan.
He couldn’t rise back mentally and then hurt himself financially, so much that a few years ago, it was reported that Arshad had become a taxi driver in Sydney, when a fan noticed him when he booked his taxi and put it on social media.
He was given a new lease of life in cricket when PCB appointed him the spin bowling coach of their women’s team in 2020.
Adam Hollioake
Former England all-rounder Adam Hollioake played 4 Tests and 35 ODIs between 1996 and 1999; he last played a high-level professional game in 2007 and went on to pursue his family business in Australia.
But the disastrous 2008 global recession drowned him along with millions of others in the world. His company’s financial position weakened: his property company, the Hollioake Group, collapsed in 2010 and by 2011 he declared bankruptcy.
Hollioake then initiated his career as a mixed martial art fighter making his in-ring debut in 2012. He returned to cricket in a coaching capacity, as Afghanistan’s coach in 2018 followed by a coaching role for England Lions.
Janardan Navle
Janardan Navle is India’s first Test wicketkeeper, and who faced the historic first delivery of India’s first Test innings in the 1932 Test match against England. Navle only played one more Test though.
However, as reported by crickettimes.com, Navle spent his last days as a beggar, and did other menial jobs such as a watchman in a sugar mill in Pune where he struggled to meet his daily needs before passing away.
Mathew Sinclair
Former New Zealand batter Mathew Sinclair started his Test career at a high scoring two double centuries in his first 12 Tests, but sadly his career took a spiral down after that. He finished with an average of 32 in 33 Tests with just one more three-figure score after those two double tons.
After playing his last international game in 2010, Sinclair retired from the game in 2013. Following his retirement, he remained jobless for some time and since he hadn’t completed his education before playing international cricket, it was difficult for him to find employment to manage his expenses. He opened a sports shop but that was shut down after 8 months and he now works as a real estate salesperson in Napier.
