Namibia’s Rudolph Van Vuuren insists scoring a boundary off Pakistani veteran Wasim Akram is as big an honour as representing his country in both the rugby and cricket World Cups.
”Its an honour to play in both the World Cups, but hitting a boundary off one of my idols is a moment I will always cherish,” said Van Vuuren on Monday.
The 30-year-old, a doctor by profession who treats Aids patients across his homeland, hit one of seven boundaries in Namibia’s 82 all out during Sunday’s 171-run defeat here.
”I will tell my children that I hit a boundary off the great bowler and they will also enjoy it,” he said.
Vuuren played rugby’s World Cup in England four years ago and is almost certain to win a place in the Namibian team for the next one in Australia in October this year.
”I first saw Wasim at the 1992 World Cup taking two magic wickets in the final and since then I have idolised him,” he said after having the Pakistani autograph the bat with which he drove the boundary.
Van Vuuren, who plays in the fly-half position, said rugby remained his first love. ”I thing I have more fuel to play rugby because I am not a natural cricketer,” he said.
Born in Namibia, Vuuren was educated in South Africa before returning home to be with his sports-loving family.
”My brother Peter Van Vuuren played rugby and influenced me to take up the sport,” Vuuren said.
His first brush with international cricket came during the International Cricket Council (ICC) Trophy for associates in Malaysia in 1997. ”I finished among the top five bowlers but our team did not fare well,” he remembered.
Four years later, he grabbed 24 wickets in the next ICC Trophy to help Namibia qualify for their first World Cup here. Vuuren hoped cricket will become as popular as rugby in Namibia in a few years if they got to host international teams.
”Watching top stars in action at home will help the game,” he said. – Sapa-AFP