With the condition of Zimbabwe cricket deteriorating from around 2003 due to interference of the Robert Mugabe government, the game is at its nadir in the country at present.

Their cricket board breaching the ICC constitution eventually led the game’s parent body to suspend Zimbabwe, which meant they wouldn’t be able to participate in next year’s T20 World Cup while their players fear becoming jobless.

Some of Zimbabwe’s key players have either retired from the game or mull leaving the country, and the void will only get tougher to fill, feels Heath Streak.

“Well, we know how disappointed and gutted people like Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza are, while Solomon Mire and Graeme Cremer have either left or retired from Zimbabwe cricket. These guys not being there means huge shoes to fill and I don’t think that will be done in the short term,” the former Zimbabwe captain told The Telegraph from Bulawayo.

A ray of hope is the green light given to Zimbabwe’s tour of Bangladesh next month.

“Of course, players will be happy to go to Bangladesh. They will be keen to get back to playing cricket,” Streak said.

Streak thinks it was unfair on the players to be penalised because of the issues ailing Zimbabwe cricket.

“Players were bitterly disappointed for not being able to play in the T20 World Cup qualifiers after ICC threw Zimbabwe out. It certainly was a bitter pill to swallow for the players, especially as they are suffering because of issues happening at higher levels (in Zimbabwe Cricket). Players are getting penalised for that, which is very unfortunate.”

Speaking of Zimbabwe’s Sports and Recreation Commission effectively reversing its suspension of ZC’s original directors and dissolving the interim committee that had been assigned to run the game in the country, Streak said: “I think its more due to pressure that the ICC put and because of the repercussions which may happen in October that they probably have had to reconsider the decision.

“But I still feel a lot of things need to be resolved in Zimbabwe cricket. The sad part is that both men’s and the women’s teams have been pulled out of qualification for T20 World Cup. ”

Streak didn’t divulge details on the actual scenario of the state of affairs in his country. The entire nation is plagued by economic challenges and other problems, but Streak’s academy (Heath Streak Cricket Academy in Bulawayo) does help him stay positive.