Gerald N Mlotshwa, Zimbabwe’s Sports and Recreation Commission’s chairman, issued a statement on Facebook confirming that Streak was alive, and that he had spoken to him.
“We live in an age where any news, particularly on social media, prefixed with ‘breaking news’ is taken as fact,” it read.
“Today, of all days, and in the coming days, let us reflect deeply on what we choose to post, whether it is verified or factual, ethical or moral to do so, who we are hurting and causing trauma to; and ultimately whether our so called “breaking news” is lawful under the laws of our country.
“Whilst the overwhelming majority of posts this morning celebrated the life and achievements of this legendary cricketer, let us nonetheless respect the privacy of Heath’s family at this point in time, as well-intentioned as we might all be.”
Streak’s legacy is complicated by the fact that he is banned from any involvement in cricket until 2029 after admitting various breaches of the ICC’s anti-corruption code. In 2021, he accepted five charges relating to his post-playing career as a coach, including with the Zimbabwe national team.
Streak was found to have shared inside information with an unnamed Indian man labelled “Mr X” before matches in international cricket, the Bangladesh Premier League, the Indian Premier League and the Afghanistan Premier League, as well as passing on the contact details for four players. He was found to have received gifts, including US$35,000 in bitcoin and an iPhone in exchange. All this took place between 2017 and 2018.