The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
THE recently fired Zimbabwe national cricket team coach, Heath Streak believes he has been treated unfairly by his former employers, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC).
Streak was shown the door by ZC together with his entire technical team last Friday after being given an ultimatum to resign at 3pm on that day or be fired. When they did not quit their jobs, ZC fired them.
The former national team skipper said what pains him is the fact that they never got a chance to explain themselves.
“We were not given any explanation, never got any chance to explain ourselves. All we got was an e-mail from the Managing Director. I was told to communicate with the other members of the technical team that we should resign by 3pm on Friday or we would be fired. None of the guys resigned, so we have been summarily dismissed,’’ Streak said.
He is convinced that him and his staff did not deserve to be fired the way they were, considering that they recorded Zimbabwe’s first One Day International away series victory when they defeated Sri Lanka last year.
“My staff and I didn’t deserve to be sacked, we won first series in 17 years, we never had such crowds that we saw during the Qualifier even during my playing days. If we had failed to make the Super Six of the Qualifier then we deserved to be fired,’’ he said.
Streak, hired on a two-year contract in October 2016, was sacked together with other members of his backroom staff, Douglas Hondo (bowling coach), Lance Klusener (batting coach), Stanley Chioza (analyst), Anesu Mupotaringa (physiotherapist), Sean Bell (fitness trainer) and Walter Chawaguta (fielding coach). Captain Graeme Cremer was stripped of his team leadership role while convener of selectors Tatenda Taibu had his position taken away from him.
The Tavengwa Mukuhlani-led ZC board did not waste time with a meeting convened soon after the conclusion of the International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup held in the country. Also kicked out was Zimbabwe Under-19 coach Stephen Mangongo.
Under Streak Zimbabwe recorded a historic ODI series victory in Sri Lanka last year when the Chevrons won the five-match contest 3-2.
Meanwhile, Streak is now in India where he has taken up role as bowling coach of Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders.
His first training session with the two-time IPL champions is today.
