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Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S international cricket consultant Joseph Rego has heaped massive praise on national team coach Heath Streak describing him as a coaching genius whose rise has been meteoric.

Rego, the chief executive and executive director of the Old Mutual Heath Streak Cricket Academy Trust, revealed the former national team paceman and skipper played a huge role in the rise of Bangladesh cricket and is now bringing revolutionary changes in the game in Zimbabwe.

”Thanks to Tavengwa Mukuhlani’s unthinkable decision to restore Heath as national coach, Zimbabwe has tasted sweet success with victories since his take-over at the helm,” said Rego.

Bangladesh defeated England, Afghanistan and Scotland to reach the quarter-finals of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Streak also helped lead the Tigers to the semi-finals of the ICC Asia Cup hosted by Bangladesh in 2015, defeating the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

He also helped them to comfortable victories over Oman and The Netherlands in the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup.

The Tigers whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 in an ODI series, beat India 2-1 in a bilateral series and defeated South Africa 2-1 in an ODI series.

Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe 3-0 in an ODI and drew 1-1 in a T20 home series.

Streak was tasked with ensuring Zimbabwe qualify for the 2019 World Cup, and was allowed to continue his role as bowling coach of the Gujarat Lions in the IPL.

“He is undoubtedly the best coach in the world today,” says Rego, his sports agent during his playing days.

Meanwhile, CricBuzz reports that Zimbabwe’s revival on the field looks set to be bolstered by the return of at least one of their former star players, with talks between ZC and county duo Brendan Taylor and Kyle Jarvis at an advanced stage.

ICC chairman Shashank Manohar is expected in Zimbabwe next month.

Manohar is due to meet with officials from the Zimbabwe government as he seeks the assurances necessary for the ICC to rubber stamp Zimbabwe’s hosting of next year’s World Cup qualifiers.

Cricbuzz understands that the ICC conditionally awarded the tournament to Zimbabwe at its annual conference last month, choosing the country over the United Arab Emirates and a joint bid from Ireland and Scotland.

Hosting the tournament would be a big boost to Zimbabwe’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in 2019, but having Taylor and Jarvis available would be even more significant.

Hampshire’s 34-year-old batsman Sean Ervine is also on ZC’s radar but no formal talks have taken place.

ZC’s liquidity issues could be eased if it secures the loan that would allow it to clear its current debts of around $20m.

The larger amount of that money has been borrowed from local banks at interest rates of more than 20 per cent, meaning that a crippling portion of ZC’s income over the past five years has been gobbled up by interest repayments.

An ICC loan at international interest rates would allow ZC to climb out of its debt hole, and the prospect will be discussed further with Manohar during his  visit.

Manohar will seek assurances from the Zimbabwe government that, among other things, the necessary tax exemptions can be put in place for the World Cup qualifiers.

He will also travel to Victoria Falls to determine its suitability for the ICC’s annual conference, after ZC bid to host the event in 2018.