adminSIKANDAR Raza has made history.
He is the first Zimbabwean player to be honoured with the ICC Cricketer of the Month award.
To appreciate the significance of Raza’s heroics, in winning the award, one simply needs to look at the two players he beat on the final shortlist of three cricketers.
England captain and all-rounder, Ben Stokes, one of the leading cricketers of his generation, had been listed on that final shortlist of three players.
New Zealand all-rounder, Mitchell Santner, was also the other player who was vying for the prestigious award.
It’s not every month that a Zimbabwean cricketer finds himself in such special company.
It has never happened before, until now, that one of our stars goes on to win this award.
But, everyone who knows anything about cricket will tell you that this is an award which the 36-year-old, who appears to be getting better with age, thoroughly deserves.
His three ODI centuries, during the month under review, were very special and came against quality opponents, including one against India, which took his Chevrons to the brink of one of their greatest victories.
It’s the manner in which his centuries were fashioned, which makes them special, given that, all the time, he came in when his team was in serious trouble.
And, now and again, he showed great character to drag his team either to victory or to within touching distance of a win.
Even the International Cricket Council agreed with this.
“Raza’s three centuries for the month came against world-class attacks, with the right-hander’s unbeaten 135 against Bangladesh at the start of the month, arguably the pick of the bunch,” the game’s governing body said on their website yesterday.
“Zimbabwe were in trouble at 62/3 chasing 304 for the win when Raza and team-mate Innocent Kaia put together a massive 192-run stand for the fourth wicket.
“Raza was the aggressor of the two and batted right up until the end, remaining unbeaten on 135 from just 109 balls as Zimbabwe scripted a memorable win over the Tigers.
“In the next match, the hosts were in dire straits yet again at 49/4 chasing 292 when Raza once again pulled off the rescue act. This time, it was Regis Chakabva who kept him company.
“Yet again, Raza (117* off 127 balls) batted through right up until the end to guide his side to the second win in a row as Zimbabwe took an unassailable lead in the series.”
Raza’s award comes at a time when local cricket is marching back into the light and providing a template, for the other disciplines, of how a sport can bounce back from the depths of trouble.
Our first victory, on Australian soil, provided a reminder to the world that, indeed, we are back in business, after years in which we were struggling.
There are a number of emerging players, led by Wesly Madhevere, who are showing a lot of potential.
Just as well, they have experienced old hands, like Raza, to guide them.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter