By Zim Sport Live Writer
Sikandar Raza believes Zimbabwe’s remarkable run in the T20 World Cup group stages has not only shocked critics but also won the hearts and respect of fans across the cricketing world.
After guiding Zimbabwe to statement victories over Australia and Sri Lanka in Colombo to finish top of Group B, Raza reflected on how little faith outsiders had placed in his side at the start of the tournament.
“We keep our sights forward. If we keep our eyes on the present… I don’t think anyone gave us a chance. To win everyone’s hearts and respect, it is a good position to be in,” Raza said after the win over Sri Lanka.
The skipper has embraced Zimbabwe’s underdog status and is determined to carry that belief into the Super Eights. There, his side will face formidable opposition in defending champions India, two-time winners West Indies and 2024 finalists South Africa.
Yet Raza remains unfazed by the magnitude of the challenge.
“We take one game at a time. We arrive on the 21st, and then train on the 22nd, and then it is show-time. Whatever happens, happens. If we can win two out of three games, who knows what can happen. Everyone loves an underdog story,” he said.
Reflecting on the Sri Lanka match, Raza revealed the clarity and confidence within the Zimbabwe camp. After losing the toss, he challenged his players to focus on performance rather than circumstances.
“When we lost the toss, all I said to the boys was if we are truly playing good cricket, why does the toss matter?” he explained. “I bowled and saw that finger-spinners were not finding a lot of turn, so we could put them under pressure.”
At the innings break, Raza believed Sri Lanka had left the door open.
“I came into the changing room and said they were 10 runs short. We have trained for every situation. We have the right personnel to send in at the right time. We have got all those roles clear and that is why you see the confidence in the changing room.”
Despite Zimbabwe remaining unbeaten so far, Raza insists his focus remains firmly on the next challenge rather than the growing hype around his side.
“We are unbeaten so far, but it is only the next game that comes into my head. It’s a nice position to be in as a captain, but I will try and enjoy at least tonight,” he said.
For Raza, Zimbabwe’s campaign is about belief, preparation and embracing the romance of the underdog — a story he hopes still has a few more chapters left to write.