ISLAMABAD: In a tragic twist of fate, Heath Streak, the former captain of the Zimbabwe cricket team and a celebrated all-rounder, has lost his battle with advanced colon and liver cancer at the age of 49.
Nadine Streak, his wife, confirmed this heartbreaking news through a heartfelt Facebook post on Sunday, September 3rd, 2023.
Nadine Streak emotionally conveyed, “My beloved husband and the father of our beautiful children peacefully passed away at home in the early hours of this morning, Sunday, September 3rd, 2023. He was surrounded by family and close loved ones during his departure from this world, embraced by love. He didn’t take his final journey alone. Streaky, our souls are eternally intertwined. Until we reunite, my love.”
The official Zimbabwe Cricket Champions extended their condolences, stating, “We offer our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and fans of former Zimbabwe Cricket Captain Heath Streak. We will always remember his cricketing contributions, and we deeply feel his absence. Rest in peace.”
Fellow former cricketer Henry Olonga also paid tribute with a simple message, “Rest in peace, Streaky.”
It’s worth noting that on August 24th, Olonga prematurely reported Streak’s passing on another platform, later retracting the statement and sharing a message from Streak himself, debunking the false news.
Heath Streak’s battle with cancer began with a colon cancer diagnosis in May. Despite his health challenges, he maintained an optimistic outlook on his recovery and emphasized the importance of verifying information before spreading unconfirmed reports of his demise
Heath Streak’s wonderful cricket journey
Heath Streak had a distinguished international cricket career with Zimbabwe.
He played 65 Tests and 189 ODIs, excelling as their top bowler with 216 Test wickets and 239 ODI wickets. He was also their seventh-highest Test run-scorer and among 16 Zimbabwean batters with over 2000 ODI runs.
Streak’s career began at 19, marked by an impactful debut in 1993. Notably, he excelled against Pakistan, claiming 44 Test wickets against them.
However, his career faced challenges, including resignations in 2001 and 2004 as captain. In 2021, he received an eight-year ban for anti-corruption breaches.
Heath Streak’s legacy in Zimbabwean cricket endures.
