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Eddie Chikami
Senior Sports Reporter
HEATH STREAK finally delivered his response, and apology, but a number of questions have emerged.
How sincere was he?
Some of the contents in his statement don’t seem to tally with what the ICC stated in their judgment.
Streak claims he willingly co-operated with the investigators.
“I submitted myself to the process and co-operated at every turn” he said.
However, the ICC appear to have painted a different picture.
They said there were attempts to conceal information, and to mislead investigators, while some of the messages were deleted.
Streak was also accused of removing the phone number of his associate in what was an attempt to defeat the course of justice.
”Prior to his interview with the ACU, Mr Streak engaged in a series of WhatsApp messages with Mr X (Deepak Agarwal), knowing that Mr X himself had recently been interviewed by the ACU,” the ICC said in their judgment.
“These WhatsApp conversations, between Mr X and Mr Streak, related to what Mr X had told the ACU in his interviews.
“In these conversations, Mr Streak has admitted that he and Mr X effectively discussed what Mr Streak should say in the interviews to ensure that they both told the same story (a story which on occasions was not true).
“Consequently, he has admitted that his conduct in so doing could be construed as misleading or obstructing the ACU’s investigation.
“Mr Streak also sought clarification from Mr X over the interview process and what Mr X had told the ACU on certain matters.
“Additionally, following this conversation, Mr Streak has admitted that, at the instruction of Mr X, he deleted these messages from his phone before he attended the ACU interview, as well as deleting Mr X’s phone number from his phone.
“In so doing, Mr Streak accepts that his conduct in this regard was wrong.”
Streak suggests that he was not aware of what he was getting himself into, when he started his relationship, with Agarwal.
And that the bookmaker “was subsequently vetted, and cleared, through the usual protocols.”
But, the ICC established he knew, from the start, his associate was involved in betting.
“During these discussions, Mr X made it clear to Mr Streak that he was involved in betting on cricket, and also requested details of Mr Streak’s bank account outside Zimbabwe, which Mr Streak provided,” the ICC judgment read.
“Mr Streak also made it clear in these discussions that he wanted to establish a T20 League in Zimbabwe and was passionate about furthering cricket in Zimbabwe.
“These conversations took place via personal email addresses and phones, and not official ones, at both Mr Streak and Mr X’s request.”
Streak also claimed he never benefited from his relationship.
The only two gifts he received from Agarwal, he claimed, were a bottle of whisky and an iPhone, for his wife.
But, the ICC sang a different tune.
“The conduct engaged in by Mr Streak, and as referred to above, was not an isolated incident but, instead, occurred over a long period,” read their judgment.
“Mr Streak was, or should have been, fully aware when he passed on the inside information requested by Mr X, that such information may be used by Mr X for betting purposes, in breach of the Code.
“Mr Streak was, or should also have been fully aware that in passing on the contact details of other participants to Mr X (including the details of a current national team captain), Mr X may use those details to ask those participants for inside information for betting purposes, thereby putting those participants and their welfare at risk under the Code.
“Mr Streak’s receipt (which he failed to disclose), namely bitcoins (equivalent to around US$35000) from Mr X, as well as a brand-new iPhone.
“The fact that there are several different examples of Mr Streak and Mr X seeking to obstruct and/or delay the ACU’s investigation, it is not just a one-off occurrence.”
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