Online Reporter
DEHLI. — After Tristan Stubbs took two to square leg off Blessing Muzarabani to seal South Africa’s win, the Zimbabweans moved to a corner of the outfield in front of the Gautam Gambhir Stand to thank their small but vociferous gaggle of travelling supporters.
The fans, who are called the Castle Corner supporters because that’s where they sit at Harare Sports Club, earned more than their fair share of attention for shouting – and dancing and singing — for their team for all their worth. Their passion was rewarded with victories over Australia and Sri Lanka, and a place in the Super Eights — in which, sadly, they lost all three of their matches.
Captain Sikandar Raza couldn’t go with his players to salute their supporters because, as his team’s captain, he was detained by the host broadcaster.
By the time his interview on the southern boundary was over, the other Zimbabwean players had bid the fans farewell.
And then a beautiful thing happened.
Raza, all on his own, without someone needing to tell him to do it, ran all the way to where the supporters were and paid them due tribute.
For a long moment, he stood and waved and accepted the love. The fans deserved nothing less
“We have a personal relation with the Castle Corner fans,” Raza said. “We know each member by name. We know their families, their kids, and everything.
“They are not just fans for us, they are pretty much part of our family. I want to say to them, ‘You’re the champions of Zimbabwe for the support you guys have shown us, and the respect.’”
Respect. Zimbabwe’s team and their fans earned theirs in the best way, and with it legions of new supporters from countries far beyond their borders. Their team lost yesterday, but they weren’t beaten. Their supporters were a credit to the tournament and the game itself, and their captain showed his class as a human being when he recognised that truth by turning up when it mattered. — Cricbuzz
Mathew Masinge