On August 23, heartbreaking news spread across social media regarding former Zimbabwe Cricketer Heath Streak’s death. The report claims that the all-rounder dies at the age of 49 due to cancer. He suffered from cancer affecting his colon and liver.
Later one of his former Zimbabwe teammate Henry Olonga claimed that the iconic cricketer is alive. The back-to-back statements created confusion among the fans on social media.
Henry Olonga Denies Fake News Regarding Heath Streak’s Death
Heath Streak was primarily a right-arm pacer who was good at the bat lower down the order. He was the part of golden generation of Zimbabwe cricket and has featured in 65 Tests and 189 ODIs, where he scored 4933 runs and scalped 455 wickets for his country.
Streak contributed to his team with a total of 1190 Test runs and 2493 ODI runs. He is the only Zimbabwe cricketer to take 100 wickets in Tests and Zimbabwe’s highest wicket-taker of all time.
He announced his retirement from cricket in 2005 and he became the bowling coach of the Bangladesh National Team and also coached Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL.
He signed a two-year contract to serve as Warwickshire’s captain in 2006 but resigned after one game of the 2007 season on April 25, 2007. Then he signed for the ICL in the year 2007.
The Zimbabwe cricket community and many ex-cricketers start to express their grief on social media. But later, Henry Olonga confirms that the legendary cricketer is alive via a tweet on his official X(Twitter) handle.
I can confirm that rumours of the demise of Heath Streak have been greatly exaggerated. I just heard from him. The third umpire has called him back. He is very much alive folks. pic.twitter.com/LQs6bcjWSB
— Henry Olonga (@henryolonga) August 23, 2023
Earlier his family members and friends confirmed he was diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment. “Heath has cancer and is undergoing treatment under one of the most respected oncologists in South Africa,” said his family.
He scored his one and Only century of 127* runs against West Indies. He made his debut against Pakistan in 1993 and made himself well-known after he scalped 8 wickets in the second Test at Rawalpindi.
He was banned from all cricket activities by ICC for 8 years in 2021 for breaching the Anti-corruption policy, to which he pleaded guilty.
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