Update (03 September 2023): Former Zimbabwe cricket team captain Heath Streak has succumbed to his prolonged struggle with cancer on 03 September 2023. This announcement has been officially confirmed by his spouse Nadine Streak. Media reports can be seen here and here.
Social media is abuzz with news of former Zimbabwe cricketer Heath Streak’s demise. Let’s fact-check this claim through this article.
Claim: Former Zimbabwe cricketer Heath Streak passed away.
Fact: The claim is a hoax. Heath Streak is alive and has refuted the rumours about his death. Hence, the claim made in the post is False.
A thorough search online using relevant keywords revealed this claim to be a hoax. News reports (here, here, and here) confirm Streak is alive and has denied the death rumours.
Initially, news reports circulated announcing the passing of Heath Streak. Subsequently, Zimbabwe’s former fast bowler, Henry Olonga, took to Twitter to set the record straight, after which media outlets retracted their earlier news reports.
Reuters, for instance, withdrew their article titled “Cricket-Former Zimbabwe captain Streak dies aged 49,” stating that the source of the story had retracted their statement.
Henry Olonga’s clarification on Twitter emphasised that Heath Streak is very much alive, and the news of his death is a hoax.
It was actually Henry Olonga himself who initially shared news about Streak’s supposed demise on Twitter.
Furthermore, Mid-Day reported that Heath Streak, who is battling cancer, personally communicated that he is alive and well. Addressing the situation, Streak reportedly told his writer, “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.”
To sum up, the message circulating on social media regarding the passing of former Zimbabwe cricketer Heath Streak is false.
