The Sunday Mail
OUTGOING Chevrons head coach Heath Streak feels he has been unfairly blamed for Zimbabwe’s failed bid to qualify for next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup in the United Kingdom.
The Chevrons were dumped out of contention 10 days ago via a three-run loss to the United Arab Emirates; allowing Afghanistan to pip Ireland – and join the West Indies – in the Promised Land just a day later during a qualifying tournament.
Streak and his entire coaching staff were given their marching orders after refusing to resign before a stipulated Friday 3pm deadline.
“Further to our discussions, please give your technical staff (and yourself included) until 3pm tomorrow (Friday) to formally resign.
“After which time the technical team can consider themselves dismissed and relieved of their duties with immediate effect.
“Can you please advise all your technical staff accordingly,’’ read an email from Zimbabwe Cricket MD Faisal Hasnain.
However, Streak believes the manner in which he and his technical team were booted out was very disrespectful and a gross betrayal.
“The email was the only explanation we have been given at this time,” said Streak.
“We were not given any audience or hearing to explain ourselves. We did not even hear from Zimbabwe Cricket face to face, despite Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani publicly stating so. We have been left with no other option than to speculate that losing to the United Arab Emirates clearly cost us our jobs.
“This is despite the fact that our record, since we started, has almost doubled our success percentage in One-day Internationals and we won our first ODI away series in 17 years.”
Streak had expressed his desire to stay on and was in the process of coming up with an action plan for the 2020 World T20.
“Right now I am not sure what the next move will be. . .I still wanted to stay as coach. The fact that we failed to qualify for next year’s World Cup is quite disheartening and it may be a while before these wounds heal.
“However, I thought I had done enough to warrant an extension as my record speaks for itself. The team looks in better shape since I took over and now should be the time we ought to be coming together and mapping a way forward.
“The 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia, the tours we have left this year and the revamping of our domestic cricket should be the next protocol,” he said.
