The Chronicle
Brandon Moyo, [email protected]
THE last couple of years have been exceptional for Zimbabwean international cricketer, Sikandar Raza who has reached the top of the world.
The well travelled Chevrons all rounder is in the form of his life and has not been shy of breaking and setting new records everywhere he goes.
Raza became the first Zimbabwean to be named International Cricket Council (ICC) Player of the Month and also became the first to score a 50 and be named Player of the Match in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
His brilliant form has continued to the ongoing 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers where he has helped the Chevrons reach the Super Six stage of the tournament.
In the first three matches, the 37-year-old has won two Player of the Match accolades for his brilliant all round performances which saw Zimbabwe beat the Netherlands and West Indies by six wickets and 35 runs respectively.
He won the Player of the Match accolade yesterday against the Windies, after top scoring with 68 runs and also taking two wickets, Raza now has the second most Player of the Match awards in One Day Internationals (ODIs) for Zimbabwe, tied with the great Andy Flower. They are both on 11, however Raza has played 81matches less than Flower.
Raza has, so far, played 132 matches while Flower retired with 213 games under his name.
Raza is now on the verge of boasting the most Player of the Match awards for Zimbabwe, as he is one short of the leader, Grant Flower who finished with 12 awards from 221 matches.
Raza and Zimbabwe will be back in action tomorrow in their last match of the group stages of the World Cup Qualifiers and will be facing the United States of America (USA) at Harare Sports Club.
– @brandon_malvin
