2022 T20 World Cup: Sikandar Raza – The man who ‘spun’ a famous win for Zimbabwe against Pakistan | Cricket News – Times of India

Emotions inside Sikandar Raza must have been unique when Zimbabwe wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva removed the bails to run out Shaheen Shah Afridi for a thrilling one-run win at the ongoing T20 World Cup over Pakistan — the country where Raza was born. The occasion was even more special for Raza, who bowls off-spin, because his three wickets for 25 runs is what really turned the game on its head when Pakistan were sitting pretty at 88/3 chasing Zimbabwe’s 130/8.
Needing two off the final ball of the ‘Super 12’ match on Thursday, Afridi was run out for one, which ended Pakistan innings at 129/8 – one run shy of Zimbabwe’s total.
Raza was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’. Incredibly, this was Raza’s third ‘Player of the Match’ award in 4 completed games for Zimbabwe in this edition of the T20 World Cup so far.

BACKGROUND
Born in Sialkot, Raza moved to Zimbabwe for studies once his dream of becoming a fighter pilot ended after he failed an examination of his eyes. His parents had moved to Zimbabwe in 2002.
Below are some facts about Raza in his cricket journey ever since he made Zimbabwe his home:
– First-Class debut: 2007
– After seeing his talent, Zimbabwe cricket federation made sure Raza’s process of getting citizenship moved in the fast lane.
– He made the cut for Zimbabwe’s 2011 ODI World Cup preliminary squad but wasn’t selected in the final squad.

– Raza became a Zimbabwe citizen in 2011.
– He made his ODI debut in May 2013.
– He made his Test debut in September 2013 against his home country Pakistan.
– Raza played a key role as an all-rounder in Zimbabwe’s maiden bilateral ODI series win on Sri Lankan soil in 2017.
– Raza was picked up by Chittagong Kings in the 2017 Bangladesh Premier League draft.

THE NUMBERS SO FAR:
Batting:
Tests: 17 matches, 1187 runs, highest: 127, average: 35.97, hundreds: 1, fifties: 8
ODIs: 123 matches, 3656 runs, highest: 141, average: 36.56, hundreds: 6, fifties: 20
T20Is: 63 matches, 1185 runs, highest: 87, average: 20.79, strike rate: 127.97, hundreds: 0, fifties: 6
Bowling:
Tests: 17 matches, wickets: 34, best: 7/133, economy: 3.25
ODIs: 123 matches, wickets: 70, best: 3/21, economy: 4.89
T20Is: 63 matches, wickets: 36, best: 4/8, economy: 7.17