Former Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak has filed a $1 million defamation lawsuit against Zimbabwe Cricket board chairperson Tavengwa Mukuhlani for alleging the Zimbabwean to be a racist over his selection.

Earlier, Mukuhlani slammed Heath Streak and questioned his decision to select Peter Moor and suggested that Streak discriminated between the players.

Meanwhile, Streak’s lawyer claimed that Mukuhlani’s claims were baseless and the sole intention of it was to harm the reputation of the former bowling all-rounder. He also added that the reputation damage that he has suffered is worth around $1,000,000.

"The defendant knew fully well or ought to have known at the time he uttered the words that his words were baseless. His words were malicious and deliberately intended to tarnish the plaintiff's reputation," Mlotshwa, Streak's lawyer said.

"Further, the defendant deliberately and maliciously failed to verify the accuracy and truthfulness of his wrongful and malicious utterances before dishing such words to journalists for the attention of the general public.

". . . . as a result the defendant's defamatory utterances and resultant publication thereof, the plaintiff's standing as a professional cricketer and a patriot has been diminished and soiled and soiled locally, regionally and internationally. His chances of getting employed elsewhere as a coach have been thwarted.