(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Zimbabwean cricket legend Heath Streak is still alive, his mother has confirmed.
That is not normally a statement that would make news but in this case erroneous reports of Streak’s death were so widespread, news that he in fact wasn’t is leading news sites in Zimbabwe.
Streak is alive contrary to a host of emotional tributes posted on social media, including one by former teammate Henry Olonga, which led to a long list of publications, including Wide World of Sports, incorrectly reporting he had died.
On Wednesday morning, the cricket world was rocked when, as it’s turned out, it was incorrectly reported that Streak lost his battle against cancer at the age of 49.
“Heath is not well, but he is fine. He is here at the farm, walking about and cracking jokes,” said his mother Karen, as quoted by Zimbabwean publication The Chronicle.
“As a family, we are disturbed by the news and the phone has not stopped ringing, considering who Heath is. I am picking up the phones so that I put the record straight.”
Olonga posted on social media a screenshot of a WhatsApp exchange with Streak.
“Very much alive … Revert this run-out immediately, buddy,” Streak wrote.
“So good to hear. This thing grew legs quickly. You died overnight brother,” replied Olonga, who dropped a laughing emoji.
“I can confirm that rumours of the demise of Heath Streak have been greatly exaggerated,” Olonga wrote in his caption.
“I just heard from him. The third umpire has called him back. He is very much alive, folks.”
It was revealed in May that Streak, an iron-willed fast bowler and handy batter in the 1990s and 2000s, was being treated for cancer.
From 254 international matches, he took 455 wickets and scored 4983 runs, including a century and 11 half-centuries.
He is Zimbabwe’s highest wicket-taker in history.
Streak was appointed the Zimbabwean captaincy in 2000, but tension with the board over pay and quotas took its toll, leading to his resignation as skipper. He was reappointed in 2002, but the stresses that came with the position again wore him down.
He retired from international cricket in 2005 and held several coaching roles over the years that followed, including with Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and the Kolkata Knight Riders.
In 2021, he was dealt an eight-year ban after being charged with five breaches of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption code.
“Heath has cancer and is undergoing treatment under one of the most respected oncologists in South Africa,” his family said in a statement at the time.
“He remains in good spirits and will continue to fight this disease in a similar vein to that which his opponents faced during his revered days on the cricket field.”
