By Zim Sport Live Writer
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza has been signed by MI London as a temporary overseas replacement for Afghanistan star Rashid Khan for the remainder of the ongoing Hundred season.
Rashid has left the franchise to join Afghanistan’s squad for their upcoming white-ball series against Ireland, paving the way for Raza to link up with MI London after completing Zimbabwe’s recent white-ball assignments against Bangladesh and India.
The move continues a busy period for the experienced all-rounder, who recently enjoyed a productive spell with Worcestershire in England’s Vitality Blast before a brief stint with Dambulla Sixers in the Lanka Premier League.
Raza impressed during his second spell with Worcestershire, scoring 258 runs at an average of 36.85 in nine Vitality Blast matches while also claiming nine wickets with an economy rate of just 6.54.
The Zimbabwean had joined Dambulla Sixers as a replacement for South African batter Marques Ackerman in the Lanka Premier League before now making the switch to MI London.
One of the most experienced T20 cricketers in world cricket, Raza arrives with an outstanding record of 7,572 runs at a strike rate of almost 137, alongside 255 wickets from 374 T20 matches.
His experience also includes 139 T20 International appearances for Zimbabwe, where he remains one of the country’s most influential players across all formats.
Raza’s arrival gives MI London a proven match-winner with both bat and ball as they cope with Rashid’s temporary absence during Afghanistan’s tour of Ireland.
Meanwhile, Raza has also been retained by the Paarl Royals for the fifth edition of South Africa’s SA20 competition, providing another vote of confidence in the Zimbabwe captain’s standing in franchise cricket.
The Royals confirmed Raza among their retained players ahead of the 2027 season, which gets underway on January 17. The tournament will be preceded by a mini-auction on October 7, when the franchises will finalise their squads.
The retention means Raza is set for another busy franchise schedule, with commitments in England and South Africa adding to his international duties for Zimbabwe.