Daijiworld Media Network - Harare
Harare, Sep 3: Former Zimbabwean cricket captain, Heath Streak, passed away in the early hours of September 3, as confirmed by his wife, Nadine, in a heartfelt Facebook post. Streak, who valiantly battled liver cancer, had been declared dead falsely almost a week prior, and he had personally dispelled those rumors when he spoke to the media.
Heath Streak, Who Was Battling Liver Cancer, Passes Away At 49; Ex-Zimbabwe Captain's Wife Nadine Confirms DeathHeath Streak is no more. (Source: Twitter)
Heath Streak was a distinguished cricketer who represented Zimbabwe in 65 Test matches, 189 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and participated in 175 first-class matches during his illustrious career. His tenacious struggle against liver cancer was well-documented, and his passing marks the end of an era in Zimbabwean cricket.
Nadine Streak, his wife, took to social media to share the somber news, writing, "In the early hours of this morning, Sunday the 3rd of September 2023, the greatest love of my life and the father of my beautiful children, was carried to be with the Angels from his home where he wished to spend his last days surrounded by his family and closest loved ones. He was covered in love and peace and did not walk off the Park alone. Our souls are joined for eternity, Streaky. Till I hold you again," in a poignant Facebook post.
It is worth noting that false reports of Heath Streak's death had circulated almost a week ago, causing widespread confusion. Even former cricketers like Anil Kumble and Adam Gilchrist became inadvertent victims of the fake news. A week after the initial rumor, the legendary Zimbabwean cricketer finally passed away.
Streak concluded his cricketing career with impressive statistics, claiming 216 Test wickets and 239 ODI wickets. In first-class cricket, he secured a remarkable 499 wickets.
After retiring from professional cricket, Streak transitioned into a coaching role. Unfortunately, his promising coaching career was cut short by his illness, which rendered him bedridden. Streak faced a ban from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for eight years due to his failure to report an approach made by a bookie, thereby breaching the ICC Code of Conduct. He accepted five charges of violating the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
In the pictures shared by his wife, Heath Streak appeared frail due to his ongoing illness. Nevertheless, his final days were spent surrounded by loved ones. Henry Olonga, his longtime teammate, paid tribute to Streak by posting "RIP Streaky" to mourn the loss of a cricketing legend.