Table of Contents
- Cricket teams from Pakistan and Bangladesh pay tribute to Heath Streak with a minute of silence at Asia Cup 2023.
- Former Zimbabwean all-rounder Streak passed away at 49 after battling advanced colon and liver cancer.
- Bangladesh faces Pakistan in a crucial Asia Cup Super 4 match, making lineup changes for the encounter.
In a poignant moment of solidarity, players from both the Pakistan and Bangladesh cricket teams paid their respects to the late Zimbabwean all-rounder, Heath Streak, who recently passed away, by observing a minute of silence. This heartfelt tribute took place before their match in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023, held at the historic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Heath Streak, aged 49, succumbed to advanced colon and liver cancer on a somber Sunday. He had been undergoing treatment at a medical facility in Johannesburg, South Africa. Left behind in the wake of his untimely departure are his grieving wife, Nadine, and their four children.
Streak’s illustrious cricketing career left an indelible mark on the sport. During his time on the field, he claimed 216 wickets and scored 1,990 runs in 65 Test matches spanning from 1993 to 2005. His prowess wasn’t confined to the longest format; he also made significant contributions in one-day internationals, amassing 2,943 runs and claiming 239 wickets over 189 appearances.
Upon retiring from the game, Streak transitioned into the role of head coach for the Bangladesh cricket team. Concurrently, he served as the bowling coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders, a prominent franchise in the Indian Premier League.
Also, read: Jay Shah opens up on criticism regarding Asia Cup 2023
However, his post-retirement journey was not without its challenges. In 2021, Streak faced an eight-year ban from all forms of cricket after admitting to breaches of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption code. He shouldered “full responsibility” for his actions but vehemently denied any involvement in match-fixing attempts.
Turning the attention back to the match at hand, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat against Pakistan in a critical Super 4 clash during the ongoing Asia Cup 2023. Both teams made strategic changes to their lineups for this pivotal encounter. Pakistan brought in Faheem Ashraf in place of Mohammad Nawaz, while Litton Das replaced the injured Najmul Hossain Shanto for Bangladesh.
In terms of tournament progression, Pakistan and India advanced from Group A, while Bangladesh and Sri Lanka secured their berths in the Asia Cup Super 4 from Group B. Notably, Pakistan showcased their dominance with a resounding 238-run victory over Nepal in their initial group-stage match, but their second encounter against India was washed out due to weather conditions.
In contrast, Bangladesh faced an initial setback, losing to Sri Lanka by five wickets, but rebounded strongly by defeating Afghanistan by 89 runs, securing their place in the next round.
Also, see:
Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 schedule
