Heath Streak says he is ‘very upset’ as Zimbabwean cricketing legend breaks his silence after being falsely reported dead on social media: ‘I am alive and well’
- Zimbabwean cricketer Heath Streeft was reported dead on Wednesday
- Former teammate Henry Olonga announced the news on social media
- Olonga eventually turned around and revealed that Streak was alive
Zimbabwean cricketer Heath Streak said he was “very upset and hurt” by rumors of his sudden death that swept the internet on Wednesday.
The cricketing world was shocked after one of Heat’s former teammates announced that the 49-year-old had died of cancer.
“It is a total rumor and a lie. I am alive and well,” Streak told Indian Outlet Halfway through the day in response to the rumors of his death.
“I am very angry to learn that something as big as someone seemingly dying can be spread out of control, especially in our age of social media.”
Earlier on Wednesday, former Zimbabwean international Henry Olonga had taken to social media to pay tribute to his country’s “greatest all-rounder”.
Heath Streak was ‘very upset and hurt’ by the rumors of his sudden death that flooded the internet on Wednesday
Rumors of his death seemed to spread after former Zimbabwean teammate Henry Olonga mourned his passing on social media
“Sad news arrives that Heath Streak has crossed over to the other side,” he wrote on X – the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
‘RIP legend (Zimbabwean cricket). The best all-rounder we’ve produced. It was a pleasure to play with you.
“See you on the other side when my bowling spell ends.”
However, Olonga made a spectacular U-turn for hours when he confirmed that Streak was alive and well.
“I can confirm that the rumors of Heath Streak’s demise have been greatly exaggerated,” he wrote.
‘I just heard from him. The third referee has called him back. He’s very much alive, folks.’
Olonga then shared a message Streak sent him following the reports of his death: “Very alive..pse return this runout IMMEDIATELY, friend.”
The former fast bowler is one of Zimbabwe’s best ever cricketers and was the first player from his country to take 100 wickets.
Olonga then shared a Whatsapp message from Streak, who revealed he was alive
Streak played 65 Tests and 189 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe, where he was captain between 2000 and 2004.
He scored 4,933 international runs, hit a lone century against the West Indies at Harare, and took 445 wickets.
Streak was battling cancer earlier this year and was being treated in South Africa.
In 2021, he was banned from cricket for eight years after admitting to several breaches of the ICC’s anti-corruption code.
Streak accepted five charges and his sentence at the ICC in lieu of a hearing at the anti-corruption tribunal and was barred from any involvement in the sport until March 2029.
Streak is Zimbabwe’s all-time leading wicket taker for Test matches and ODI cricket with 216 and 239 wickets respectively
Streak was banned from cricket for eight years after admitting several breaches of the ICC’s anti-corruption code in 2021
The ex-bowler was under ICC investigation into an extensive list of international and Twenty20 league appearances during his post-playing career as a coach, including for Zimbabwe between 2016 and 2018.
The ICC investigation revealed that Streak communicated with an Indian man named ‘Mr X’ during his time coaching Zimbabwe and in T20 leagues in Asia, the BBC said.
He passed on information about matches and also the contact details of players, including the captain of a national team.
Streak accepted the ICC’s ban, but denied the match-fixing claims made against him.