Former Zimbabwe Cricket Captain Heath Streak Passes Away at 49 After Battling Cancer
In a somber turn of events, former Zimbabwean cricket captain, Heath Streak, has succumbed to colon and liver cancer at the age of 49. The beloved cricketing figure breathed his last on Sunday, September 3, 2023, surrounded by his family in Johannesburg, where he had been receiving treatment.
Heath Streak etched his name in Zimbabwe’s cricketing history as the all-time leading test wicket-taker for the nation. Over his illustrious career spanning from 1993 to 2005, Streak amassed an impressive 216 wickets and contributed 1,990 runs in 65 test matches.
Nadine Streak, his wife, took to social media to share the heartbreaking news. She wrote, “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.”
Following his retirement, Heath Streak transitioned into a coaching role, first as Zimbabwe’s bowling coach and later with Bangladesh. He also enjoyed stints with the Kolkata Knight Riders, the twice Indian Premier League champions.
In 2016, Streak returned to coach Zimbabwe’s national team. However, his tenure came to an end after the team failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup.
In 2021, Heath Streak faced a significant setback when he was handed an eight-year ban from cricket after admitting to breaches of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption code. While taking “full responsibility” for his actions, he vehemently denied any involvement in match-fixing attempts.
Tavengwa Mukuhlani, chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket, expressed his condolences, saying, “This is a very sad day for Zimbabwe and a sad day for cricket as we on the one hand mourn the demise of a true great of our beautiful game and, on the other, celebrate the greatness of what Heath gave us. He played with passion, spirit and was nothing less than an inspirational figure who raised our flag high and touched lives within the sport and beyond.”
Heath Streak’s passing marks a significant loss to the cricketing world, leaving behind a legacy that will be cherished by fans and remembered for years to come.