Ex Zimbabwean cricketers join forces for charity

(TheSportsEncounter): Former Australia captain Steve Waugh is not the only foreign player helping underprivileged children in India as former Zimbabwe skipper and current bowling coach, Heath Streak has also decided to follow the Aussie captain’s path. The 47-year-old Waugh has been a regular visitor to Udayan, a home for children of leprosy patients in Kolkatta. Waugh began his innings with the city in Kolkata in March 1998 when he became closely associated with Udayan. Heath Streak has chosen Mangalore as its base.

“We have launched this ‘Heath Streak Foundation,’ and the charity initiative is aimed at supporting underprivileged children who are deprived of basic education and health care”, he said over telephone from Mangalore, where he, along with few other Zimbabwe players had arrived to play a charity match on Sunday. Heath Streak Foundation will deal with the children having heart disorders.

“We are here in India to play in a fund raising cricket match in Mangalore for the Heath Streak Foundation, which has been set up to raise funds for underprivileged youths – it is a game that will see a number of current and ex international Zimbabweans play in a game against local players”, a member of the Zimbabwe team Douglas Marillier said. Interestingly, Marillier has been sharing his date of birth with India’s master-blaster Sachin Tendulkar.

Zimbabwean players will be in Mumbai on Monday for a charity dinner.