Heath Streak puts death rumours to rest in a chat with Henry Olonga

Legendary Zimbabwe cricketer Heath Streak has confirmed that he’s alive after rumours of his death spread all around the world on Wednesday, August 23. The entire cricketing fraternity was mourning the loss of the Zimbabwe legend who has been battling with colon and liver cancer since May 2023. However, former Zimbabwe cricketer Henry Olonga shared a screenshot of his Whatsapp chat with Streak where he confirmed that he’s alive a few hours after the reports of his death flooded the internet.

Notably, several top media houses and cricketers such as Mpumelelo Mbangwa, Ian Bishop and Ravichandran Ashwin had expressed their condolences on the sad demise of Streak. Even, Henry Olonga had earlier posted a eulogy in his memory before putting all the rumours to rest by sharing a chat with the man himself.

Olonga took to X to share the screenshots of his chat with Streak and wrote, "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.”

“Very much alive…pse (sic) revert this runout IMMEDIATELY buddy," read a text from Streak to his former Zimbabwe teammate Olonga.

“Ha ha. So good to hear. This thing grew legs quickly. You died overnight brother," Olonga responded.

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

As a family, we are disturbed by the news: Karen Streak

Heath’s mother Karen Streak also confirmed that he’s alive and stated that their family is disturbed by the rumours.

“Heath is not well, but he is fine. He is here at the farm, walking about and cracking jokes. 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,” Karen Streak was quoted as saying by chronicle.co.zw.

Ever since his cancer diagnosis, the 49-year-old has been receiving treatment at home and in South Africa. The legendary all-rounder represented Zimbabwe in 65 Tests and 189 ODIs in a career spanning over 12 years. The Bulawayo-born cricketer is the highest wicket-taker for his country in both Tests and ODIs with 216 and 239 wickets to his name respectively.