Reassuring Fans
Cricket legend Heath Streak has spoken out after false reports of his death circulated on the internet. The 49-year-old expressed his disappointment and hurt over the rumors that spread like wildfire. Streak assured fans that he is alive and well, contradicting the teammate who mistakenly announced his passing.
The Mistaken Announcement
The false news of Streak's death was initially spread by fellow cricketer Henry Olonga. Olonga shared a social media post paying tribute to Streak, referring to him as the nation's greatest allrounder. The post caused tributes and messages of heartbreak to flood social media platforms, with even Zimbabwe captain Sean Williams and cricket writer Bharat Sundaresan falling for the hoax.
The Truth Comes Out
Olonga soon realized his mistake and admitted that he had been misinformed about Streak's condition. He shared another post stating that the rumors of Streak's demise were greatly exaggerated. Olonga also shared a message from Streak himself, urging him to correct the misinformation.
Streak Denies the Reports
In a statement, Streak branded the reports of his death as "a total rumour and a lie." The former Zimbabwe captain emphasized that he is alive and well, expressing his disappointment that such misinformation can spread so quickly in the era of social media.
Lessons to Learn
Zimbabwe's Sports and Recreation Commission's chairman, Gerald N Mlotshwa, also weighed in on the incident. In a Facebook post, he called for reflection on the responsibility of sharing news, especially on social media. Mlotshwa emphasized the need for verified and factual information and urged respect for the privacy of Streak's family.
Streak's Legacy and Controversy
Heath Streak has had an illustrious cricketing career, playing 65 Tests and 189 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe. He is considered one of the country's best sportsmen, with nearly 5,000 international runs and 445 wickets to his name. However, his legacy suffered a setback in 2021 when he was banned from cricket for eight years for various breaches of the ICC's anti-corruption code. Streak accepted the ban but denied allegations of match-fixing.
