Pakistan-born cricketer Sikandar Raza chooses to stay loyal to Zimbabwe, declining offers to play for Pakistan in international cricket. While he was born in the subcontinent, Raza moved to an African country with his parents.
He has since become a leading all-rounder and T20I captain for Zimbabwe. Renowned for his exceptional performances in white-ball cricket, he has also made a mark in prominent T20 leagues around the world.
“Zim is mine and I’m theirs fully” Sikandar Raza is loyal to Zimbabwe
Sikandar Raza, celebrated for his aggressive lower-order batting, wicket-taking skills, and reliable fielding, recently addressed questions about returning to Pakistan’s national team during a social media Q&A.
Despite his strong connections to Pakistan, Raza affirmed his commitment to Zimbabwe, stating that it will always be his top priority.
Additionally, he is known for his exceptional performances in white-ball cricket and his contributions to various T20 leagues. Raza remains steadfast in his dedication to representing Zimbabwe, underscoring his loyalty to his adopted nation.
“I am a born Pakistani and a product of Zimbabwe Cricket I will only and ever represent Zimbabwe. (They) spent time and money on me and I am only trying to repay their faith and whatever I achieve will never even get close to repaying it Zim is mine and am theirs fully,” he wrote.
Pakistan born Sikandar Raza was Zimbabwe’s captain against India
Raza captained Zimbabwe in a five-match T20I series against a young Indian team. Surprisingly, Zimbabwe won the opening game, defeating the reigning ICC T20 World Cup champions. However, Shubman Gill and his team bounced back to claim victory in the following four matches.
The India tour of Zimbabwe started on 6 July with a T20 match between the two teams at Harare sports club. In the first match, India won the toss, yet lost the match by 13 runs. In the second match, India scored a whopping 234/2 in 20 overs. Zimbabwe got restricted to a total score of 134 runs, losing the match by a huge margin.
In the 3rd match India scored 182/4 in the first innings. In the second innings, Zimbabwe scored 159/6, losing the match by 23 runs. India won the fourth match by 10 wickets 156/0 in 15.1 overs. Zimbabwe had scored 152/7 in 20 overs.
The fifth match was played at the same venue. Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to bowl first. India scored 167/6 in 20 overs. Zimbabwe could only score 125 runs in 18.3 overs, losing by 42 runs.
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