Former Zimbabwe Captain Heath Streak is no more!
On the early morning of September 3, former Zimbabwe cricket captain Heath Streak tragically passed away, as revealed by his wife through a heartfelt Facebook post. Streak’s cricketing journey was illustrious, encompassing 65 Test matches, 189 ODIs for Zimbabwe, and 175 first-class games. His brave battle against liver cancer had been ongoing for an extended period. Nadine Streak, his wife, took to social media to share the somber news, expressing that “the greatest love of my life was carried to be with the Angels.”
In her Facebook message, Nadine disclosed that in the early hours of September 3, 2023, Heath departed from this world in the comforts of his home, where he had wished to spend his final days, surrounded by his beloved family and closest friends. He departed with love and tranquility, never walking alone from the metaphorical cricket field of life. She conveyed a sense of eternal connection, saying, “Our souls are joined for eternity, Streaky. Till I hold you again.”
It’s worth noting that Heath Streak had been mistakenly declared deceased almost a week before his actual passing. This false rumor rapidly spread across the internet, even deceiving former cricketers Anil Kumble and Adam Gilchrist. A week after this unfortunate confusion shook the lives of the Streak family, the legendary Zimbabwean cricketer indeed left us.
Heath Streak’s cricketing legacy is significant, with 216 Test wickets, 239 ODI wickets, and a remarkable 499 wickets in first-class cricket. Following his retirement from playing, he transitioned into coaching, but his battle with illness disrupted his professional pursuits. Streak faced an ICC ban due to breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct, accepting five charges of violating the ICC Anti-Corruption Code, leading to an eight-year suspension.
In the photos shared by his wife, Streak appeared visibly weakened by his illness. However, he spent his final days on Earth surrounded by the warmth of his loved ones. Henry Olonga, his teammate for many years, paid tribute to the loss with a poignant message: “RIP Streaky.” Heath Streak made his international debut in November 1993 in an ODI against South Africa in Bengaluru. He followed this with his Test debut in Karachi later that same year, in December. The family has yet to announce details regarding his funeral arrangements.
