Veteran cricketer passes away, lost battle to cancer
New Delhi: Former captain of Zimbabwe cricket team Heath Streak is no more. Streak, who was battling cancer, died on September 3 (Sunday). Streak’s wife Nadine informed about the demise of this legendary player through a Facebook post. On August 23, the news of the death of 49 year old Heath Streak was revealed, but it was then proved to be a rumour.
Nadine Streak wrote, ‘Today (September 3) the greatest love of my life and father of my beautiful children was taken from his home to the Angels, where he was to spend his final days with family and closest loved ones. He was full of love and peace and never went out of the house alone. Our souls are united for eternity, Streaky. Until I catch you again.’
Heath Streak made many records while playing for Zimbabwe which still stand today. Streak is still counted as the only Zimbabwean bowler to have taken more than 100 Test wickets and more than 200 ODI wickets. He captained Zimbabwe in the 2000s, during that difficult period due to poor relations between the board and the team, many players withdrew from the national team.
Streak represented Zimbabwe in 65 Tests and 189 ODIs between 1993 and 2005, scoring 1990 runs and 216 wickets in Tests and 2943 runs and 239 wickets in ODIs. He resigned as captain of Zimbabwe in 2004 following a clash with the board. He retired from international cricket in 2005 at the age of 31. He also served in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was also an important part of the coaching staff of teams like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Gujarat Lions (GL). Heath Streak also coached Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at the international level.
On August 23, former Zimbabwean cricketer Henry Olanga tweeted the rumor of Heath Streak’s death. After Henry Olanga’s tweet, many cricketers started paying tribute to Heath Streak. However, later he deleted this tweet. Then Olanga shared the screenshot of the conversation with Streak and told that this veteran is alive. Olanga wrote, “I can confirm that the rumors of Heath Streak’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. I have just spoken to him. The third umpire has called him back. He is very alive guys. ‘
