Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
WITH Zimbabwe’s path to the tri-series final still open, captain Sikandar Raza says the Chevrons will be rooting for Pakistan when the hosts take on Sri Lanka in a decisive clash at Rawalpindi tomorrow.
Both Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka sit on two points, and with only one round-robin match left, the maths now matters as much as the cricket. Zimbabwe hold a healthier net run rate, which means a Pakistan victory would push them into Saturday’s final.
Raza spoke soon after Zimbabwe crashed to a nine-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka on Tuesday. He admitted his team fell short with both bat and ball, then turned his attention to what comes next.
“We were slightly short. I think overs 18 and 19 from Malinga and Chamee were top class. Having said that, we didn’t bowl well in the powerplay. We didn’t allow the ball to swing. There was variable bounce too, but once you bowl too full or too short, it’s easy.
“We haven’t been in a position where we have to rely on others to qualify, so it’s a good position to be in. I guess everyone will be supporting Pakistan so that we can get into the final,” said Raza.
Zimbabwe have one win from four outings while Sri Lanka have a single victory from three matches. Pakistan remain unbeaten after three games, and their meeting with Sri Lanka will begin at 3pm. Zimbabwe’s net run rate stands at 0,522, ahead of Sri Lanka’s -1,324, a margin that could prove decisive if Pakistan do the job.
Away from the qualification puzzle, Raza’s personal form has been rewarded. He has climbed to the top of the ICC Men’s T20I all-rounder rankings after another strong showing in this series. His latest contribution came in Tuesday’s loss, where he hammered a brisk 37 and delivered four tight overs.
His rise pushes Pakistan’s Saim Ayub into second place. It also marks a new milestone for Raza, who reaches No.1 in T20Is for the first time in a 13-year international career. The 39-year-old has been a permanent fixture inside the top ten since the 2022 T20 World Cup, underlining the consistency that now sees him recognised as the best all-rounder in the format.
Raza was crowned the world’s top ODI all-rounder in September and sits second in that ranking. His hot streak also includes one of the fastest T20I centuries recorded by a Zimbabwean — a 33-ball hundred that stands as the joint second-fastest in men’s T20Is.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz also makes gains in the latest rankings update, climbing to seventh after steady work with the ball during the series.
