Former Zimbabwe captain and cricketing legend Heath Streak passed away on Sunday, 3rd September 2023, as confirmed by his wife Nadine Streak in a heartfelt Facebook post.
"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. He was surrounded by family and loved ones in the comfort of his home, where he wished to spend his final days. Our souls are joined for eternity, Streaky. Till I hold you again," Nadine Streak shared.
A distinguished career in Zimbabwe cricket
Heath Streak is among the most celebrated figures in Zimbabwe's cricket history. Over a remarkable 12-year career, he played in 65 Test matches and 189 One Day Internationals (ODIs). He often bore the weight of Zimbabwe's cricketing reputation almost single-handedly. Notably, Streak is the only Zimbabwean cricketer to have claimed over 100 Test wickets.
Streak's cricketing journey
Streak's cricketing odyssey began in 1993 with his debut against Pakistan. He quickly made an impact, taking an impressive eight wickets in just his second Test match in Rawalpindi. He retired in 2005 and after a stint as Warwickshire's captain until 2006, he ended that chapter of his career due to form-related issues. His final foray into international cricket was with the Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2007.
Life after retirement
Even post-retirement, Streak's love for cricket remained strong. He transitioned into coaching, mentoring teams such as Zimbabwe, Scotland, Bangladesh, the Gujarat Lions, and the Kolkata Knight Riders. Unfortunately, his illustrious career was marred when he faced an eight-year suspension from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for anti-corruption breaches.
Debunking earlier false reports
Prior to his passing, false news about Streak's death had circulated after a tweet from his former colleague Henry Olonga went viral. Streak had then confirmed that he was alive.
Family Spokesperson Confirms
John Rennie, a former Zimbabwe international and the family spokesperson, confirmed Streak's passing to Sportstar. "He passed away in the early hours at his farm in Matabeleland. He was surrounded by his family and loved ones. He died peacefully after a long fight with cancer," Rennie stated.
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