Former Rebel Heath Streak Tipped as Possible Zimbabwe Cricket Head Coach
Zimbabwe Cricket has been undergoing change under the leadership of Chief Executive Ozias Bvute and Chairman Peter Chingoka
Other candidates include former player Grant Flower, brother of England coach Andy Flower, and outgoing Zimbabwe coach Walter Chawaguta Former Zimbabwe Cricket captain Heath Streak, currently bowling coach for the national side, confirmed on Tuesday that he is in the running to become national team coach, a position that opened up at the start of the year. Other candidates include former player Grant Flower, brother of England coach Andy Flower, and outgoing Zimbabwe coach Walter Chawaguta. Zimbabwe Cricket has been undergoing change under the leadership of Chief Executive Ozias Bvute and Chairman Peter Chingoka, making an effort to mend relations between players and management and bring back key individuals. Streak agreed there is a positive wind of change blowing through Zimbabwe Cricket which will benefit cricket locally and internationally. Relations between Zimbabwe Cricket and players including Streak reached the breaking point in 2004 when Streak was captain and was accused of having influenced 14 other white cricketers to boycott training, leading to his dismissal and an exodus of top athletes referred to as the "rebel players." Streak told VOA those days are behind him and he wants to help rebuild and rebrand the sport to increase the professionalism of the side. Streak made his Test debut in a match against Pakistan in 1993. He was the only Zimbabwean bowler to have taken 100 Test wickets and one of only two local bowlers to take more than 100 one-day international wickets, an honor shared with Grant Flower, his reported competitor for the post. Streak held cricketing posts in England, India and Hong Kong before becoming Zimbabwe bowling coach in August 2009. He has been tasked with developing local junior fast bowlers and strengthening franchise cricket. Streak credits Zimbabwe Cricket for setting up the franchise system to spin off the sport into five provinces to build its popularity at the grass roots. Streak tells VOA Studio 7 reporter Marvellous Mhlanga-Nyahuye that despite his historical differences with the Zimbabwe Cricket administration leading to his 2004 sacking, both sides want to move the team ahead.