Ex-Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak banned from all cricket for EIGHT YEARS

Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak has been banned from cricket for eight years after admitting several breaches of the ICC’s anti-corruption code.

Streak, 47, accepted five charges and his punishment with the ICC in lieu of an anti-corruption tribunal hearing. He has been barred for any involvement in the sport until March 2029.

The former fast bowler has been under ICC investigation over an extensive list of international and Twenty20 league matches during his post-playing career as a coach, including for Zimbabwe between 2016 and 2018.

The ex-captain and coach of Zimbabwe has been banned from all cricket for eight years

Streak coached Zimbabwe and other sides at the time he breached the anti-corruption code

Streak played 65 tests and 189 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe between 1993 and 2005. 

The ICC investigation found Streak communicated with an Indian man called ‘Mr X’ during his time coaching Zimbabwe and in T20 leagues across Asia.

He passed on information on matches and also the contact details of players, including the captain of a national side.

In return, Streak received two Bitcoins and an iPhone for his wife.

The charges include ‘disclosing inside information… in circumstances where he knew or should have known that such information may be used for betting purposes’.

This related to matches in a 2018 Tri-Series involving Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, a 2018 series between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, plus the 2018 Indian Premier League. 

The ICC found the disclosed information was likely to be used for betting. 

Streak successfully appeals for the wicket of England’s Alec Stewart during a 2003 Test match

Streak worked as a bowling coach with IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. Games in the Pakistan Super League, Bangladesh Premier League and Afghanistan Premier League were also investigated by the ICC.

Another charge involved ‘directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, persuading, encouraging, or intentionally facilitating any participant to breach the [anti-corruption] code.’

Streak is understood to have facilitated access for a corrupter to people at teams where he worked as a coach.

He initially denied the allegations but subsequently accepted his guilt and the ban.

The ICC charged Streak with the following breaches of the anti-corruption code: 

• Article 2.3.2 – disclosing inside information under both the ICC Code and various domestic codes, in circumstances where he knew or should have known that such information may be used for betting purposes. In particular, he disclosed inside information in relation to matches in the 2018 Tri-Series involving Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the Zimbabwe v Afghanistan series in 2018, the IPL 2018 and the APL 2018.
• Article 2.3.3 – directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any participant to breach the code. In particular, he facilitated or attempted to facilitate the introduction of four different players, including a national captain, to someone he knew, or should have known, may have wanted to approach them to provide inside information for betting purposes.
• Article 2.4.2 – Failing to disclose the receipt of any gift, payment, hospitality or other benefit that the participant knew or should have known was given to them to procure a breach of the code or that was made or given in circumstances that could bring the participant or the sport of cricket into disrepute.
• Article 2.4.4 – Failing to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in corrupt conduct under the code including in relation to international matches, matches in the 2017 BPL, the 2018 Pakistan Super League, the 2018 IPL and the 2018 APL.
• Article 2.4.7 – obstructing or delaying an investigation, including concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and / or that may be evidence of or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.

In a statement, Alex Marshall, general manager of ICC integrity unit, said: ‘Heath Streak is an experienced former international cricketer and national team coach, who had participated in numerous anti-corruption education sessions and was fully aware of his responsibilities under the code.

Streak pictured with the Zimbabwe team in 2017 – he has now been banned until 2029

‘As a former captain and coach, he held a position of trust and owed a duty to uphold the integrity of the game. He breached the code on several occasions, including facilitating the approach of four other players. At times, he also sought to obstruct and delay our investigation.

‘The offences did not affect the outcomes of any relevant matches and Mr Streak has agreed to assist the ICC anti-corruption education programme for which we are grateful. He has also expressed his remorse and contrition and entered this agreed sanction decision to avoid the need for a full disciplinary process. The sanction reflects this cooperation.’