Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SIKANDAR RAZA keeps proving why he is among the world’s elite cricketers.
The Zimbabwe all-rounder has climbed the ICC charts again, strengthening his grip as the No.1-ranked ODI all-rounder and moving three places up to fourth in T20Is.
The 38-year-old Chevrons T20I captain will lead his side in a three-match home series against Namibia starting tomorrow at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
He goes into the clash rated 207 points in the ICC Men’s T20 All-Rounder Rankings, only behind India’s Hardik Pandya, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi and Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee.
Raza is edging closer to his career best of 213 points set after India’s tour of Zimbabwe last year.
Zimbabwe and Namibia meet as part of their final buildup to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2025, scheduled for Harare from September 26 to October 4.
The top two teams from that event will earn tickets to the 2026 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Other contenders are Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda.
The Namibian Eagles arrived in Bulawayo on Friday, confident after dominating the Chevrons in recent contests.
They have won seven of the 11 T20Is between the two nations, including the decisive qualifier in Windhoek last year that blocked Zimbabwe from the 2024 World Cup.
Namibia’s first breakthrough came in 2022 when they stunned Zimbabwe 3-2 at the Queens Sports Club, their maiden series victory over a full member.
They repeated the feat with another 3-2 win in 2023 and triumphed again at the qualifier with a seven-wicket victory.
Raza and his men will aim to rewrite that script and claim their first series win over Namibia, a boost ahead of the qualifier.
All matches are free to the public.
Monday’s opener begins at 9.30am, with the next two games set for 1.30pm on Tuesday and Thursday.
