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Zimbabwean cricket legend Heath Streak has emerged to dismiss the swirling rumors of his death, expressing his dismay at the unfounded speculations that spread like wildfire across social media platforms.
The unexpected controversy began when Henry Olonga, a former teammate of Streak, posted a tweet early on Wednesday morning claiming that Streak had succumbed to a prolonged battle with cancer. The news sent shockwaves through the cricket community and beyond.
However, within a matter of hours, Olonga himself retracted his initial statement, asserting that Streak is very much alive. In a follow-up tweet, Olonga clarified, “I can confirm that rumors 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.”
Also READ: Henry Olonga brushes aside rumours of former Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak’s death
A Baseless Rumor: Streak’s Response
Streak swiftly addressed the rumors, expressing his disappointment and hurt at the ease with which unverified news can spread on social media, particularly when it pertains to such a grave subject as someone’s passing. Streak emphasized the importance of accountability and called for an apology from the source of the news.
“It is a total rumor and a lie. I’m alive and well. I am very upset to learn that something as significant as someone apparently passing can be spread unverified, especially in our day and age of social media. I believe the source should apologize. I am hurt by the news,” said Streak as quoted by MidDay.
A Legacy of Achievement
Streak, who is a prominent figure in Zimbabwean cricket, retired from the sport at the age of 31 in 2005. His cricketing journey remains an inspiration to many. Notably, Streak holds the distinction of being the sole Zimbabwean bowler with over 100 Test wickets and more than 200 ODI wickets.
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Throughout his illustrious career, Streak participated in 65 Test matches, amassing an impressive 216 wickets with an economy rate of 2.69. In the ODI format, he featured in 189 matches, claiming 239 wickets with an economy rate of 4.51. Streak’s contributions were not limited to bowling, as he also showcased his batting prowess, accumulating 1,990 runs in the Test format and 2,934 runs in ODIs.
