New Delhi: Former Zimbabwe cricket captain Heath Streak is “very much alive”, his teammate Henry Olonga confirmed Wednesday, countering his own tweet a few hours ago that the cricketer had succumbed to cancer the night before.
Olonga’s tweet about Streak’s passing added to the bizarre rumour that spread like wildfire early Wednesday, setting off a collective mourning by the cricketing world.
Olonga had posted: “Sad news coming through that Heath Streak has crossed to the other side… See you on the other side when my bowling spell comes to an end…”
Hours later, Olonga put all that to rest. He posted on X: “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.”
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
Zimbabwe’s celebrated cricketer, Streak has represented the country in 65 Tests and 189 ODIs, scoring 4,933 runs and taking 455 wickets.
After retiring in 2005, he served in coaching roles for several teams at domestic and international levels, including Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders.
However, in 2021, Streak was banned from all cricket for eight years after being charged with five breaches of the ICC’s anti-corruption code.
Earlier this year, Streak’s family revealed he was undergoing treatment for cancer. They said in a statement: “Heath has cancer and is undergoing treatment under one of the most respected oncologists in South Africa.
“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.”
Streak is “hurt and upset” about the “death” chatter on the Internet, he told Mid-Day on Wednesday.
“It is a total rumour and a lie. I’m alive and well. I am very upset to learn that something as big as someone apparently passing can be spread unverified, especially in our day and age of social media,” Streak was quoted by the publication.
“I believe the source should apologise. I am hurt by the news,” he added.
Olonga too has got the stick from fans for his initial post on X. They pointed out that his post added legs to the rumour, and that media houses banked on it to run the story.
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