Cricket legend and ex-Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak dies aged 49 after cancer battle, his wife confirms in emotional post

Former Zimbabwean cricket star Heath Streak has died at the age of 49 after a battle with cancer.

Steak’s wife Nadine confirmed the news in an emotional post on social media. 

‘In the early hours of this morning, Sunday, September 3rd, 2023, the greatest love of my life and 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,’ she wrote on Facebook.

‘He was covered in love and peace and did not walk off the park alone.

‘Our souls are joined for eternity, Streaky. Till I hold you again.’

Zimbabwean cricket star Heath Streak has died at the age of 49 after a battle with cancer

Streak’s wife Nadine said the star had been surrounded by his family and close friends

Streak was reported to be battling cancer earlier in the year and had been receiving specialist treatment at a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Confirmation of Streak’s death comes weeks after he said he was ‘very upset and hurt’ by rumours of his passing.

One of Streak’s former teammates Henry Olonga announced last month that Streak had died, before performing a spectacular U-turn.

Olonga admitted the ‘very unfortunate’ incident must have been devastating for Streak’s family and friends.

The former fast bowler was one of Zimbabwe’s greatest ever cricketers and was the first player from his nation to take 100 wickets.

Streak played 65 Tests and 189 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe, captaining them between 2000 and 2004.

He scored 4,933 international runs, hitting a lone century against the West Indies in Harare, and took 445 wickets.

Streak served as the bowling coach of Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and the IPL teams Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Lions after ending his playing career.

He also had spells with Scotland and Somerset.

Streak is Zimbabwe’s all-time leading wicket-taker in Test matches and ODI cricket

Streak was banned from cricket for eight years after admitting to several breaches of the ICC’s anti-corruption code in 2021

Streak became Zimbabwe’s head coach in 2016, but was unable to help the team qualify for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, leading to his resignation in 2018.

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 punishment with the ICC in lieu of an anti-corruption tribunal hearing and was barred from any involvement in the sport until March 2029.

The ex-bowler had been under ICC investigation over an extensive list of international and Twenty20 league matches during his post-playing career as a coach, including for Zimbabwe between 2016 and 2018.

The ICC investigation found Streak communicated with an Indian man called ‘Mr X’ during his time coaching Zimbabwe and in T20 leagues across Asia, according to the BBC.

He passed on information on matches and also the contact details of players, including the captain of a national side.

Streak accepted the ban by the ICC but denied the match fixing claims levelled against him.