Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Cricket captain Sikandar Raza is keen to stay in the game a bit longer and see the Chevrons continue with their momentum at the next ICC T20 Men’s World Cup in 2028.
The Chevrons all-rounder was thrilled after Zimbabwe reached the Super Eight for the first time and earned an automatic slot for the next T20 World Cup event to be held in New Zealand and Australia.
Raza underlined his value as the best all-rounder in the world with some top performances in Zimbabwe’s campaign.
At the age of 39 years, Raza has not shown signs of slowing down in the field as well as with bat and ball and would want to contribute again for the 2027 ODI World Cup and 2028 T20 World Cup campaigns.
“Certainly, very much so. It looks too far away for some of us but we see where we are and we see how we go.
“But I just think for me the culture we have built in the change room you know whether we are there or we are not there, I think this team should be on autopilot and things should be very smooth.
“Hopefully if Allah wills it, all the senior boys are fit and healthy, we would love to be part of that as well. But having said that, the culture we have built, the relations we have built with the fans home and away, I just think we’re onto something here and the hope, most importantly, that we have given to people back home.’’
Zimbabwe had a dream run in the group stages of the campaign when they finished top of Group B with a clean record.
Among their tournament highlights were the famous victories against giants Australia and co-hosts Sri Lanka.
But they learnt harsh lessons in the Super Eight where they were dominated by the West Indies, India and South Africa.
Raza nonetheless is hoping to take the lessons forward as Zimbabwe seek to build on the momentum and the relief of not having to go through the qualifying phase for the next World Cup.
“Certainly qualifying (to the Super Eights) was a big step. Getting a ticket to the next World Cup without the qualifiers, massive achievement.
“I think in these Super 8s, as much as we have lost, I can assure you, the lessons we have taken on. After the first game, we got better. After the second game, we even got better.
“So, these are the things that when I look into my team and say, you know what? We are learning, we are growing, and as a captain, I couldn’t have asked for more, and I couldn’t be any prouder of the boys.
“So, as a captain and as a leader, I’m very, very proud of this bunch of boys because I genuinely felt that we got better with every game that went on, and hopefully when we come back to the ICC event next time we’ll be even better.”
He believes the success of the Chevrons will inspire the nation to invest more in the sport.
“The Chevrons have done something that hasn’t been done before. And I think the hope to the parents to allow their kids to take cricket as a primarily sport so that our depth can get better, our standards can get better.
“Because right now, immediate thing that Zimbabwe needs to do is to improve the pool of players. But I think what we have achieved now, Zimbabwe doesn’t need to really do anything. I think it’s going to happen automatically now,” said Raza.
Zimbabwe will co-host the 2027 ODI World Cup with South Africa and Namibia.
They have lined up not less than three tours under the ICC’s Future Tours Programme this year. Zimbabwe’s 2026 calendar begins with a challenging away tour to Pakistan late next month for three ODIs and as many T20Is.
In July they welcome Bangladesh for a two-Test series and five ODIs. Zimbabwe’s final assignment of the year is a multi-format tour to Afghanistan, comprising two Tests, three ODIs and three T20s. The schedule, however, is subject to alterations.
“I can assure you one thing that the Zimbabwe management, the MD and the chairman have been very active behind the scenes. We have got three home tours and one away tour in 2026 and with a possibility of two more tours and three A-series as well.
“So, management has been really busy behind closed doors without me revealing too much, I can assure you that you will be seeing plenty more of Zimbabwe.
“I just think right now we need to go back and just take a breather, regroup, plan, draw a blueprint where we need to go, how we need to do about our 2027 World Cup business, but I can assure you that the management is busy and you’re going to see Zimbabwe more and more,” said Raza.
The Chevrons’ travel plans from India were delayed by the armed conflict in the Middle East which led to the closure of airspaces and disruptions of flight schedules.
West Indies national cricket team also suffered the same fate but ICC have assured safety of all the stakeholders.
“The safety and well-being of every individual connected to our event is the ICC’s highest priority. We have already mobilised our travel, logistics and security teams and are working around the clock to ensure that all stakeholders can return home safely, with minimal disruption,” said an ICC spokesperson.
