Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani says the eight-year ban handed to former national team all-rounder and coach Heath Streak for corruption is the sport’s darkest day in the country.

The 47-year-old Streak admitted to five breaches of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-corruption code and agreed to the sanction that was revealed on Wednesday.

“This is a very sad and shameful episode that might well go down in history as the darkest day in Zimbabwean cricket,” Mukuhlani said in a statement.

“Streak was a powerful figure adored by many and held up as an idol for future generations of cricketers.

“But, as we and the rest of the world now know, Streak was also a corrupt, greedy and selfish character, who regrettably abused his status and position in pursuit of dirty benefits.”

Mukuhlani endorsed the punishment and said it would “help to reinforce the measures that the ICC and ZC have been taking to root out any wrongdoing in cricket.”